A global challenge to create thousands of books in languages children use and understand.

The Grand Challenge

Imagine learning to read without a book. Yet around the world, millions of children have little to no books in languages they use and understand, thereby limiting their right to literacy and quality education. For the more than 93 million children with disabilities, the shortage of books is even more severe, as resources, if available at all, often lack accessible formats. Literacy is a cornerstone of development, placing children on a path for future success in school, employment, health and society.

Research shows that children experience greater reading success when learning in their local spoken or signed language. Providing engaging and accessible books in these underserved languages is essential to empowering and supporting these children on their path to literacy.

The Big Idea

With a mission devoted to ensuring all children have access to books, All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development is collaborating with the Global Book Alliance (GBA) to launch the Begin With Books Prize, a competition challenging global innovators to assemble cost-effective packages of high quality, accessible titles in more than 30 underserved spoken and signed languages. Winning innovators will upload the titles to the Global Digital Library (GDL), a free web-based platform that will make high-quality early learning resources available in more than 100 languages.

Beginning with books, we can ensure more children are prepared to reach their full potential—while simultaneously accelerating progress across multiple development goals.