Book Dash events - Book Dash

At Book Dash, we’ve addressed the problem of access to books in an innovative and unique way.

We used our expert knowledge of the production and publication process to squeeze out all the aspects of publishing that make it a lengthy and expensive process: we make ten books in just one day!

On a Book Dash Day, we gather volunteer teams of skilled creative professionals to create new African picture books:

On average, each day comprises ten teams.
Each team has a writer, an illustrator and a designer; all carefully selected to ensure beautiful, high-quality books.
Each team has twelve hours to create their book.
We provide expert editors, tech support, a great venue, good food and lots of coffee: everything the teams need to do their best work!
Working in solidarity, the room buzzes with creative energy and inspiration.
Everyone is a volunteer on the day and everything we create is our gift to the world. All the books are added to our website for anyone to access, adapt, translate or distribute, meaning our books have exponential, global reach!

The Book Dash model is open-licensed, too! That means that anyone can use the Book Dash Manual to organise their own book-making event. Our book design templates are also available. Please let us know if you are planning an event in your country!

Submit your interest to hear about future events

Our latest event

Book Dash 23: Johannesburg, 17 August 2024

On Saturday 17 August 2024 we hosted our 23rd Book Dash event in the warm city of gold at University of Johannesburg: Library. All our books are made in 12-hour […]

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Past Book Dash events

Book Dash 22: Cape Town, 14 October 2023

Saturday 14 October 2023 saw us hosting our 22nd Book Dash event with breathtaking views from Workshop 17 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. On this Book Dash day, […]

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Book Dash 21: Bologna 6 – 7 March 2023

Book Dash created two new African storybooks live at the 60th edition of the Bologna Children's Book Fair!

See the books!

Book Dash 20: Durban, 29 October 2022

Durban creatives, are you ready? We heard your call and Book Dash is coming back to KZN for the first time since 2015! We need you to help us on our mission to make sure that every child owns a hundred books by the age of five.

See the books!

Book Dash 19: Cape Town, 14 May 2022

On a single Book Dash day, ten teams of volunteer creative teams work fast to turn enthusiasm, skills and food into beautiful African children’s books that anyone can freely access, […]

Event's books and creatives

Book Dash 18: Virtual, 18 September 2021

The next Book Dash event will take place online in September. A selection of talented, generous creatives will join us to make new books in a 12 hour sprint, to help us ensure that every child owns a hundred books by the age of five!

Book Dash 17: Virtual, 15 May 2021

We're thrilled to announce that our seventeenth Book Dash took place virtually/online in May this year. Find out who took part and read the beautiful books we made!

Book Dash 16: Virtual, 17 October 2020

Book Dash is thrilled to announce that in partnership with Liberty Community Trust we’re refining our virtual Book Dash model with this second ever virtual event. Participants living in 8 different countries will gather virtually, and make books.

Book Dash 15: Virtual, April 2020

Book Dash is thrilled to announce that in partnership with the Otto Foundation South Africa's #READTODREAM campaign, we piloted our first ever virtual Book Dash during COVID-19 enforced lockdowns worldwide.

Book Dash 14: Jozi, October 2019

On Saturday, 26 October 2019, a team of talented volunteers from across Africa came together to make ten brand new beautiful storybooks. The event was generously sponsored by the Goethe Institut.

Book Dash 13: Cape Town, April 2019

On Saturday, 13 April 2019, eleven brand new beautiful African storybooks were created in just twelve hours! These books were made by talented and generous creative volunteers, especially for babies […]

Book Dash 12: Jozi, October 2018

On Saturday, 27 October 2018, 40+ volunteer professionals gathered at Streetlight Schools in Jeppestown to create nine beautiful, new African storybooks in just 12 hours, to address the lack of […]

Book Dash 11: Cape Town, April 2018

On Saturday, 14 April 2018, 40+ volunteer professionals gathered at the Sunflower Learning Centre at Zonnebloem Primary School to create eight beautiful, new African storybooks in just 12 hours, to […]

Book Dash 10: Cape Town, December 2017

On 2 December 2017, 50+ creatives came together to address the issue of poor access to culturally relevant books for young children in Africa. Twelve teams of three each worked […]

Book Dash 8: Cape Town, November 2016

On 19 November 2016, Book Dash alumni from across South Africa came to Cape Town. Their mission? Work together to create more, beautiful African storybooks in just 12 hours. Thanks […]

Book Dash 9: Jozi, February 2017

This event took place at the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg on Saturday, 25 February 2017. It was sponsored by the wonderful people at Worldreader. The Goethe Institut generously made it possible for six […]

Book Dash 7: Grahamstown, November 2016

Eastern Cape, you asked and we answered: with Book Dash Grahamstown on Saturday the 12th November! A huge thank you to the National English Literary Museum in Grahamstown for hosting us, and The Solon Foundation for making yet another Book Dash possible!

Book Dash 6: Cape Town, March 2016

On Saturday 5 March 2016, teams of professional writers, illustrators and designers gathered at Cape Town’s Centre for the Book to create beautiful children’s books in just twelve hours.

Book Dash 5: Durban, November 2015

Book Dash teamed up with the wonderful Solon Foundation to bring Book Dash to Durban! On Saturday 7 November 2015, teams of professional writers, illustrators and designers joined us to […]

Book Dash 4: Jozi, June 2015

We teamed up with the lovely folk at African Storybook to bring Book Dash to Jozi on 27 June 2015. Teams worked together to create new children’s books in just twelve hours.

Book Dash 3: Cape Town, August 2014

Our third Book Dash was Women’s Day themed, and organised in collaboration with sponsors Rock Girl and the African Storybook Project. Each team wrote a biography of an inspiring African woman. […]

Book Dash 2: Cape Town, June 2014

Our second Book Dash saw ten teams working for 12 hours at Cape Town Central Library. The space buzzed with creative energy as each team created a story from scratch. […]

Book Dash 1: Cape Town, May 2014

This was our very first Book Dash. Just two teams working for six hours at the Paperight/Electric Book Works offices. We learned a lot about how future Book Dashes might […]