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Cloth Pocket Libraries: A Simple Idea that is Right for Ethiopian Children

Our volunteers in Ethiopia and in the U.S. have been hard at work:  sewing, writing, publishing.  Based on the very successful cloth book workshop conducted at the Segenat Children and Youth Library by Anne Pelowski, International Board on Books for Young People, we have two books at the printer crafted by local authors. These books were fully funded by generous donors.  That enthusiasm has spread across the ocean where quilters with the US Board on Books for Young People have made great progress in crafting pocket libraries.  These pocket libraries will hold approximately 30 locally-produced books that will be loaned to designated neighborhood leaders in city of Mekelle and beyond.  We know how important it is for young children to be able to read stories in their mother tongue.  It is the foundation for later learning as they progress through school and become the leaders of the future.

For those librarians among the readership, please stop by the poster session at the American Library Association conference in Anaheim, CA co-sponsored by the Segenat Foundation and USBBY.  There you will get to see examples of finely crafted cloth books, print copies of these books, and pocket libraries.

My First Counting Book

My First Counting Book: a bilingual number book in English and Amharic.

Hanging Pocket Library

This hanging pocket library will hold up to 30 bilingual children's books to be used by neighborhood leaders for weekly story time.

Cloth Pocket Library

This simple to transport pocket library will hold up to 30 bilingual children's books.

 

Cloth pocket library

A simple cloth pocket library filled with local language materials ready for use.

 

 

 

 

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Funding Received to Publish IBBY Cloth Book.

In October noted storyteller, Anne Pellowsi, representing the International Board on Books for Young People, conducted a workshop on creating simple cloth books in local languages at the Segenat Children and Youth Library.  At the end of the workshop, the participants chose two of the finest cloth books produced by the participants.  We are very pleased to announce that a very generous donor has come forth and has covered the costs of creating a digital image and printing of one of the two selected books.  The title chosen is by artist and business woman, Peniel Gideon.   Congratulations, Peniel.

Peniel Gideon works on her prize winning book.