Local Language Books for Kids - Why it matters and what you can do about it

Jul 17, 2026

Upload by Asher

A practical guide for parents and community stakeholders on why children’s access to local-language books matters. It explains benefits for academic success, learning broader knowledge, and building strong values, while supporting preservation of traditional culture. It also encourages faith-based learning through students reading Scriptures themselves. The booklet provides guidance on translation, group discussion methods like Think-Pair-Share, and includes recommended usage and crediting for authors and illustrators.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages27

Reading Time42 min

AccessFree to download

Local Language Books for Kids: Why it matters and what you can do about it

How to use the booklet with stakeholders

Translation and editing guidance

Answering questions and group activities

Reasons local language books matter

Values, culture, and faith-based reading

Local Language Books for Kids: Why it matters and what you can do about it Written by Sara Saunders Illustrated by Andrew Mutabazi English Community Living Use. This little book is for distributing to parents and other stakeholders to read individually, or as a handout to be used as a tool for guiding sensitisation and planning meetings with parent groups, churches, mosques, School Management Committees, Parent Teacher Associations, primary teachers, village development organisations, community-based organisations, local language boards and associations, or other stakeholder gatherings. Translation. Translate the text of this book into whichever language your audience prefers to use for reading and discussion. You can produce a bilingual version if your audience has mixed proficiency in multiple languages. Make sure your local language board or local language association is involved in translating and editing and is represented in any sensitisation and planning meetings. Answering questions. Note that several pages with questions include blank lines for the reader to write in his/her own ideas. Make sure you take time to consider what you know already before you go ahead to read the responses shared by the author. If you are going through in a group, take time to do Think, Pair, Share. 1) Each participant thinks of his/her answer. 2) Participants form pairs and tell each other what they though ot. 3) Some or all of the pairs share their thoughts with everyone else. Terms of use. All text and illustrations in this booklet are free for you to use even for commericial purposes. But remember to acknowledge the original author and illustrator. Local Language Books for Kids: Why it matters and what you can do about it Written by Sara Saunders Illustrated by Andrew Mutabazi English Written by Sara Saunders Illustrated by Andrew Mutabazi Artwork on page 12 from the Art of Reading shared by Summer Institute of Linguistics. Photograph on page 17 from World Vision Uganda. Logos on page 19 accessed from the respective websites. Illustration on page 13 from Cooperative Children's Book Center Copyright © 2015, Sara Saunders and Andrew Mutabazi You are free to make commercial use of this work. You may adapt and add to this work. You must keep the copyright and credits for authors, illustrators, etc. This little book will help us think about why it is important forchildren to have access to material written especially for them, and what we can do to help them access and use that material. What are some reasons you can think of why it is good forchildren to have access to material written for them? | | | --- | | | | | | | Reason \#1: Academic success Children learn to read by reading. Without books to practice their reading skills, children will not easily become strong readers. But if they can practice their reading skills and become strong readers, then they can read and understand what they are learning at school and write their exams well. They will be able to conquer the PLE with flying colours and move on to higher levels of studies if they wish. The sky will be their limit! But today, most children in Uganda are not learning to read well enough or soon enough to do well in school. Reason \#2: The Key to Knowledge Children who can read well will be able to read about anything in the world that interests them and has been written down. They will be able to find out about information coming from all over the world! They will also be able to write and share their own knowlege and experience back to the rest of the world. Knowledge is power to make good changes for yourself and others. Reason \#3: To learn good values Good reading material for children can teach them the important values they need to live in harmony with themselves, their community and their environment. Reason \#4: To learn and preserve traditional culture Good reading material for children can teach them about t

FAQs

Why is it important for children to have access to books written especially for them?

Because reading helps children practice skills, become strong readers, and perform better in school by understanding lessons and writing exams well. It also supports broader knowledge, values, and cultural continuity.

How should the booklet be adapted for different language audiences?

Translate the text into the language the audience prefers for reading and discussion. In mixed-language settings, a bilingual version can be produced, with local language boards or associations involved in translation, editing, and representation during meetings.

What group discussion method does the booklet suggest for answering questions?

Use Think-Pair-Share: participants think of their answers, form pairs to tell each other what they thought, then some or all pairs share with everyone else.

Jul 17, 2026

Upload by Asher