Book Dash Partnership
PAMSA has partnered with Book Dash to sponsor the translation of “The One in the Middle” into isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Setswana and Sepedi as well as the sponsorship towards printing costs.
Why are paper books better for our brains?
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Paper books support deeper focus and better comprehension, helping readers absorb and remember information more effectively than when reading on screens.
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Reading printed books reduces eye strain and digital fatigue, offering a calmer, more immersive experience that supports wellbeing and concentration.
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Physical books create a tangible connection to stories and learning, encouraging a lifelong love of reading without the distractions of notifications or devices.
However, Book Dash allows for a multitude of formats to ensure inclusivity and PAMSA applauds this.
The One in the Middle
Khanyiswa is not the first born. She’s not the last born. She’s the one in the MIDDLE! The book tells the story of how, as the middle child, she is often left out. But she decides she is going to have fun with a cardboard box.
There’s an Alien in my House
What do you do when there’s an alien in your house? Fight a foe or find a friend? The book tells the tale of the young boy who attempts to fight off the alien as an army-of-one, using a cardboard box as his armour and a cardboard tube as his weapon.
Going Places
The children in Ms Kani’s class had a busy weekend. Where will they go next? The book features Thandi reading a book that takes her on many adventures.
Book Dash is a South African non-profit organisation working to ensure that every child owns a hundred books by the age of five. The initiative creates high-quality, locally relevant children’s storybooks and makes them freely available for printing and distribution, helping to improve early childhood literacy across South Africa.
Using a unique volunteer-driven model, writers, illustrators, designers and language experts collaborate to produce new children’s books in multiple South African languages. You can freely read, download, adapt and even print and distribute our books. There are even audio versions to listen to!
By increasing access to affordable and free children’s books, Book Dash supports reading development, learning and imagination from an early age. The initiative also highlights the powerful role that printed books play in literacy, education and childhood development, especially in underserved communities. Through partnerships with donors, corporates and literacy organisations, Book Dash continues to expand its reach and build a culture of reading in South Africa.
Using a unique volunteer-driven model, writers, illustrators, designers and language experts collaborate to produce new children’s books in multiple South African languages in a single day. These books are then shared openly, allowing organisations, schools and communities to print and distribute them to children who may not otherwise have access to storybooks.
By increasing access to affordable and free children’s books, Book Dash supports reading development, learning and imagination from an early age. The initiative also highlights the powerful role that printed books play in literacy, education and childhood development, especially in underserved communities. Through partnerships with donors, corporates and literacy organisations, Book Dash continues to expand its reach and build a culture of reading in South Africa.