Pratham Books

Pratham Books was founded on the belief that reading is fundamental and that joyful storybooks and reading in mother tongue languages help address literacy and learning gaps. Children who read more, learn better and are more likely to succeed at school, as well as in life. For many children whose “school language” differs from the one spoken at home, the NGO has created original books in their mother tongues, and online translation tools to help translators build reading resources at scale. 

The NGO recognizes the transformative power of books in shaping young minds and fostering lifelong learning. Their storybooks cater to both emergent and confident readers across genres like fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry, featuring vibrant illustrations and content in Indian languages to make reading accessible and engaging. The books are thoughtfully categorized by reading proficiency—Emergent, Early, Independent, and Fluent—promoting a non-judgmental, supportive environment for all reading levels. Committed to their mission of placing “a book in every child’s hand,” Pratham has also introduced innovative resources like open-source digital and audiobooks, inviting children into the world of reading. Additionally, their unique story cards, book-like in terms of shape, size, colour and matter but compact, durable, and cost-effective—have reached millions of children, making reading enjoyable and attainable for everyone.

Pratham Books has addressed the lack of resources in many schools by creating the innovative "Library-in-a-Classroom" (LIC), a compact library that hangs on the wall, offering children easy access to books. Designed to support both educators and students, the LIC includes 100 durable, laminated storybooks, students in multigrade classrooms are encouraged to engage with richly illustrated books in a welcoming, open display, promoting shared reading and fostering emotional and intellectual growth.

StoryWeaver is an open-access digital platform offering multilingual storybooks to help children learn and practice reading. All StoryWeaver content is openly licensed under CC-BY 4.0, allowing free reading, translation, and customization. The platform’s tools enable users to translate stories into new languages or create original stories with vibrant illustrations. Additionally, the StoryWeaver Foundational Literacy Programme in Hindi and Marathi aims to build reading fluency and comprehension for Grades 1 to 3 through leveled picture books, assessments, and resources aligned with NIPUN Bharat’s learning goals, ensuring a solid foundation in literacy.