Open Content Partners

Book Dash is defined by its open access philosophy and partners with individuals and organisations all over the world. These organisations are referred to as Open Content Partners.

The creative volunteers who make our books agree to license their work under a Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0) License and we publish the books using this license. The open license means that there is no restriction on what can be done with the books, not even a restriction on commercial use. This means that anyone can download the files from our website and re-publish the books on their own website, or make audio versions and animations from the books, or translate the books into any language. Anyone can even print thousands of copies and sell them. In this way, the books reach children and families globally.

Have a look at one of our ongoing partnerships with ChangeX and community changemakers worldwide: https://www.changex.org/za/books-for-bright-futures

Become a Book Dash Open Content Partner!

How Open Content Partners re-use the Book Dash content

There are different ways in which Open Content Partners (or OCPs for short) are using the Book Dash content.

OCPs who print and distribute

OCPs who print and distribute:

use existing Book Dash books to print and distribute the books in South Africa or around the world, and/or
translate, but does not otherwise adapt, existing Book Dash books to print and distribute the books in South Africa or around the world, and/or
adapts existing Book Dash books into new formats to print and distribute the adapted content in South Africa or around the world

OCPs who reshare content electronically

OCPs who replicate the Model

And this is what they keep in mind when doing so:

Book Dash crediting requirements

To achieve the vision of all children owning many books and addressing inequality, Book Dash knows that a collaborative effort is required, which is why the books are made available with as few restrictions as possible.

The only requirements we have are that:

the four creatives who made the book (author, illustrator, editor, and designer) are always acknowledged,
there is a link back to the Book Dash website, and
the Book Dash logo is also visible.

Also, if the original format was changed, the nature of the adaptation needs to be stated. (e.g. translated, new illustrations, audiobook, etc).

Click here to see how to credit Book Dash when using our books!

Access the Book Dash book source files

Anyone is able to download the open/source files of any of the Book Dash books. Have a look at the “Books” page (https://bookdash.org/books/) to find different books and download their source files by clicking on the “Download” button.

If you would like to download a whole bunch of Book Dash books, or all 200+ of them, you are welcome to instead follow this link to gain access to the source files of all our books. https://bookdash.org/book-source-files/

You will see the various file formats and languages of each book and, depending on the specific book, you might find the following downloadable options:

ebook PDF and images
print-ready PDF (cover and interior files)
working files (the open/source files for the cover, interior, document fonts. images, links, translation text, etc.)

If you are planning on using any of the Book Dash books, remember to read our crediting and identity guidelines and to complete this google form!

How to choose which books to download

To help you choose the most relevant Book Dash books, you’ll see how easy it is to filter by language and/or theme on the “Books” page (https://bookdash.org/books/). Or you can go directly to the “Themes” page (https://bookdash.org/themes/) to see the different themes and click on them to see the books they include and the topics they cover. There’s also an option to search for the Book Dash wordless books. Learn more about the benefits of wordless books over here: Book Dash wordless books

Supporting Book Dash’s work

Examples of other Open Content Partners who have used Book Dash books in one or more of the ways described above can be seen over here:

2020: Book Dash: The Power of Open
2021: Open Publishing Fest, Book Dash: The Power of Open

I want to re-use the Book Dash content

“When I was trying to get a good source of reading I barely found any for a beginner…then I found your app. [Reading the books] not only improved her reading skills, but also her confidence and that’s when we thought we could share it with kids by reading aloud.”

Ruth’s KidAdventure

“I am very grateful that I could start my multi-lingual picture book app BookaBooka off with some publicly available content! I was amazed with the quality of the illustrations of some of the books. The ability to change the pictures and the story itself was key in being able to use this content. Thank you for this broad license. “

Sjors Miltenburg,
BrainBro

“Book Dash does incredible work to create highly engaging, quality books for young readers.”

Worldreader

“The Big Think loves Book Dash picture books! We have integrated them into our new primary school personal development programme for children age 4-7. These books hook and engage a full school assembly.”

Sarah Pengelly,
The Big Think UK

“Getting beautiful, relevant and accessible books into the hands of children is a sure-fire way of creating readers for many years to come. Book Dash offers an innovative solution to growing generations of book-lovers, wordsmiths and creative thinkers.”

Mignon Hardie,
FunDza Literacy Trust