Literacy Resources
Free tools, guides, and information for educators, volunteers, advocates, and anyone who believes in the power of reading.
Featured Resource Kits
All of our resources are free to download, share, and adapt. We believe knowledge should be open to everyone working to improve literacy.
π Starting a Community Library
A step-by-step guide for communities, schools, or individuals who want to start a small library from scratch. Includes space planning, book sourcing, cataloging, and staffing.
Download PDF βπ©βπ« Teaching Reading in Low-Resource Classrooms
Practical methods for teachers with few materials. Covers phonics, storytelling, group reading, and assessment using locally available supplies.
Download PDF βπ How to Run a Book Drive
Everything you need to organize a successful book drive in your school, workplace, or community. Includes promotional flyers and sorting guidelines.
Download PDF βπ§ Starting a Girls' Reading Circle
A guide for community leaders who want to create safe, supportive spaces where girls can learn to read together. Includes sample session plans.
Download PDF βπ± Offline Digital Literacy Guide
How to use low-cost tablets, offline apps, and solar charging to bring digital reading to communities without internet or electricity.
Download PDF βπ Adult Literacy Tutor Handbook
A complete guide for volunteers who want to tutor adults one-on-one or in small groups. Includes lesson templates and progress tracking.
Download PDF βGlobal Literacy Fact Sheets
Key statistics and information about literacy worldwide. Use these to educate yourself, your community, or your organization.
Global Literacy Snapshot
773 million adults worldwide cannot read or write.
Two-thirds of illiterate adults are women.
258 million children and youth are out of school.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest literacy rates, followed by South Asia.
Countries with higher literacy rates have stronger economies, better health outcomes, and more stable democracies.
Why Girls' Literacy Matters
When a girl learns to read, she is more likely to delay marriage, have fewer children, and earn higher wages.
Educated mothers are twice as likely to send their own children to school.
For every year a girl stays in school, her future income increases by 10-20 percent.
Yet in many countries, less than half of girls complete primary school.
The Cost of Illiteracy
Low literacy costs the global economy more than one trillion dollars each year.
Adults with low literacy are more likely to live in poverty, have poor health, and be unemployed.
Children of illiterate parents are more likely to become illiterate adults β a cycle that continues across generations.
Every $1 invested in literacy programs returns $10 in economic and social benefits.
Mother Tongue & Literacy
Children learn to read best in a language they already speak and understand.
Yet 40 percent of the world's children are taught in a language different from their mother tongue.
Literacy programs that use local languages see faster learning, higher retention, and more community engagement.
Global Literacy Support prioritizes books and materials in more than 35 local languages.
Recommended Book Lists
Books that children love, organized by age and theme. These lists are drawn from our work with thousands of children around the world.
Books for Young Children (Ages 3β7)
- We All Went on Safari β Laurie Krebs (Tanzania counting book)
- Mama Panya's Pancakes β Mary & Rich Chamberlin (Kenya)
- Beatrice's Goat β Page McBrier (Uganda)
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (picture book) β William Kamkwamba
- My Grandfather's Blessing β Rukhsana Khan (Pakistan)
- I Like Myself! β Karen Beaumont (self-esteem)
- The Library Lion β Michelle Knudsen (libraries & rules)
- Waiting for the Biblioburro β Monica Brown (mobile library in Colombia)
Books for Middle Readers (Ages 8β12)
- The Year of the Dog β Grace Lin (Chinese American family)
- Esperanza Rising β Pam MuΓ±oz Ryan (Mexico & US migrant workers)
- A Long Walk to Water β Linda Sue Park (South Sudan)
- Inside Out & Back Again β ThanhhΓ LαΊ‘i (Vietnam to US)
- The Breadwinner β Deborah Ellis (Afghanistan)
- I Am Malala (young readers edition) β Malala Yousafzai
- The Night Diary β Veera Hiranandani (India-Pakistan partition)
Books for Young Adults (Ages 13+)
- American Street β Ibi Zoboi (Haitian immigrant story)
- The Hate U Give β Angie Thomas (activism & voice)
- Born a Crime β Trevor Noah (South Africa)
- The Book Thief β Markus Zusak (power of books in Nazi Germany)
- Fahrenheit 451 β Ray Bradbury (censorship & literacy)
- Reading Lolita in Tehran β Azar Nafisi (women reading in Iran)
Books for Adult New Readers (Simpler Language)
- First Reader Series β various (short stories for adults learning to read)
- The Chicken Soup for the Soul series (short, accessible stories)
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (abridged) β Maya Angelou
- Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (simplified)
- Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls' Rights (simplified)
Teacher Tools & Lesson Plans
Practical classroom resources developed by literacy educators. Free to use and adapt.
Phonics for Beginners
Letter-sound activities, word games, and simple worksheets for early readers. Works in any language.
Download βReading Comprehension Questions
Question stems for any book β from basic recall to critical thinking.
Download βMaking Books from Local Materials
How to create simple, durable books using paper, string, and recycled materials.
Download βAssessment Checklist: Early Reading Skills
Track individual student progress with this simple checklist.
Download βClassroom Library Setup Guide
How to organize a small classroom library with limited space and budget.
Download βMultilingual Classroom Posters
Alphabet posters, word walls, and reading reminders in multiple languages.
Download βResearch Summaries
Key findings from literacy research, summarized in plain language.
What Works in Literacy?
Research from UNESCO, the World Bank, and academic studies shows that effective literacy programs share five features: (1) teaching in the learner's mother tongue, (2) trained teachers who receive ongoing support, (3) relevant, engaging books, (4) community involvement, and (5) consistent assessment to guide instruction. Programs missing any of these elements are far less likely to succeed.
The Importance of Early Reading
Children who do not learn to read by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. By age ten, reading ability strongly predicts future academic and career success. Early intervention matters more than remediation later.
Digital Literacy in Low-Connectivity Areas
Studies show that offline tablet programs can produce reading gains equal to or greater than traditional instruction β especially in areas with few trained teachers. Children are highly motivated by technology, and apps that adapt to individual reading levels accelerate learning.
Video & Multimedia (Coming Soon)
We are developing a library of training videos and literacy stories. Topics will include:
- How to teach a child to sound out words
- Setting up a reading corner in any space
- Stories from the field β communities we serve
- Volunteer training sessions
Check back for updates, or contact us to be notified when new media is available.
Request Printed Materials
If you need printed copies of our resources β for a classroom, library, or community event β we can provide them at no cost while supplies last. Contact us with the name of the resource and the quantity needed.