A hundred books by the age of five
Book Dash is a not-for-profit, South African social impact publisher of open, African picturebooks for very young children. Based on evidence, our vision is that “Every child should own a hundred books by the age of five”, long before they enter school!
Getting relevant, quality books into the homes of very young children and families is an evidence-based way to support all aspects of a child’s lifelong development and increase positive parenting practices. The earlier we start, the more the benefits compound.
To that end Book Dash developed a unique 12-hour publishing model that vastly reduces the time and costs associated with creating such books. We gather creative professionals who volunteer to create beautiful new, African storybooks in just one day! Then, we share them with the world so that anyone can then freely translate, print and distribute high-quality books to children.
We work with funding and distribution partners to provide physical copies in abundance to hundreds of thousands of children and families to own.
Research shows that owning books is a key factor in holistic early development and lifelong academic and economic success: the effect of owning books outweighs a child’s socio-economic status and is equaled only by parents’ level of education.
Working together to increase the number of books in very young children’s homes, we could effectively disrupt a cycle of inequality for good.
Become a distribution partner
If you represent a social-impact organisation that works directly with children, you may qualify to get free or subsidised books from Book Dash.
Help us give books to as many children as possible
Grants and donations allow us to do our best work: create, print and distribute books. Join our family of donors and creative contributors as we get more and more children reading!
“We are grateful to Book Dash for strengthening our programme objectives with their generous donation of books. Book Dash promotes literature in all South African Languages, and their mandate is to make sure that each child owns at least 100 books by the age of five.”
The Seriti Institute
We are truly honoured to be recipients of the stunning BookDash books. We love the unique and valuable family-moments that have been created!
Rosemary de Kock
Acres of LOVE
“Book Dash is the only organisation we know who actually allow the children to own the books rather than donating to the creches. This is very important for the children as they see that the investment is in them directly, not just their creche.”
Alison Zikala,
Green Sparks Education
“Shhhh! is at the perfect level for the little ones I see: There is a dog that barks, a phone that rings, a truck that brmmms, a ball that bounces! It’s helping me both with children learning language and increasing vocabulary, but also with my non-verbal AAC users (augmentative and alternative communicators) who are non verbal but are using pictures to communicate: I can match their own picture of a ball to the ball in the story…Excellent language stimulation opportunities all round!”
Jamie Sareli,
Speech Therapist at Red Cross Cerebral Palsy Unit
“We love Book Dash books! They are an amazing tool to use in a variety of ways to help focus our educational interventions more clearly to meet our desired outcomes. We use the books in a variety of ways from knowing colour and shapes to spelling and maths, while also developing comprehension, reading skills and a love of reading.”
Tshepong Children’s Project
“Having books of their own at home makes children proud and encourages them to read more. The Book Dash books provided wonderful stories that children can read and understand in their own time, which helps make reading more accessible. We love this project and how happy it makes children to own their own books.”
Thanda Afterschool Project,
Distribution Partner
“I decided to give this story to the world for free. I have received so much from everybody. This is my little payback.”
Sindiwe Magona,
Book Dash Writer
“The creche organisations are almost never in a position to buy reading materials for their children and if they are, they would normally only buy one teacher copy which the children might not even touch. To be able to give out these books is such an essential part of the child’s educational development and we are so grateful to be involved in the distribution.”
Alison Zikala,
Green Sparks Education
What’s good with Book Dash?
Our latest event
Book Dash 21: Bologna 6 – 7 March 2023
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Hawu-hawu!
Tlotlego’s Tea Party
