Boy reading a book

The right to read

Books Away From Home provides refugee children with books in their native language, to help ease their transition to an unfamiliar place.

Toddler reading a children's book
Two children reading a book together
Boy reading book
Child reading a book
Two children in a tent reading a book
Child in bed reading a book
Child reading a book
Child picking a book from a bookshelf
Child reading a book outside
Child reading a book
Toddler reading a book

It's simple.

Children deserve books from home, even if they are far from home.

Our mission

News

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  • Opening Kinderboekenweek

    'Bij mij thuis'

    Alles over de Kinderboekenweek, 4-11 oktober 2023

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  • Classroom with children and world map

    "Heb je zelf ooit een oorlog meegemaakt?"

    In gesprek met Martine Letterie (in Dutch)

    Read more ▶︎
  • My Life Journey Book

    My Life Journey Book

    'My Life Journey Book' is a free activity book for children from Ukraine.

    Read more ▶︎
  • Two sunbirds and a flower

    Sunbird: our newest book project

    Coming to BAFH: Children's books in Persian/Dari

    Read more ▶︎
  • flower garden Ukraine school

    Flowers4School: for the schoolchildren of Ukraine

    In bleak times, the joy of flowers.

    Read more ▶︎
  • Misjka omslag

    Misjka

    Boekentip: Misjka, van Edward van de Vendel, Anoush Elman en Annet Schaap

    Read more ▶︎
  • Omslag Kinderen van ver

    Boekentip: Kinderen van ver

    Boekentip: Kinderen van ver, van Martine Letterie

    Read more ▶︎
  • My Name is Not Refugee

    "What is a refugee?"

    Books for young readers about refugees and asylum seekers

    Read more ▶︎
  • World Children's Day

    20 November is World Children’s Day

    World Children’s Day, 20 November, is UNICEF’s annual day of action: for children, by children.

    Read more ▶︎
  • Paul van Vliet in Sri Lanka, with child

    "Een boek voor een vluchteling," met Paul van Vliet, Sabri Ali Ahmed en Stacey Knecht

    "A book for a refugee," Saturday 12 Nov, at Antiquariaat Colette & Co (in Dutch)

    Read more ▶︎
  • Books Away From Home logo

    Welcome

    Books Away From Home is here at last!

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  • The first 5 Ukrainian children's books

    First print run Ukrainian children's books

    The first 10,000 Ukrainian children's books have reached their destination.

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Father reading to child

Reading matters

Reading and language are important for every child’s educational, emotional and social development. They are also important cornerstones for cultural preservation and community.

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Woman reading a book to group of refugee children

Making an impact together

We work with refugee shelters, schools, libraries, publishers, printing houses and a group of dedicated volunteers, and facilitate the book delivery process from start to finish.

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Our projects

  • Ukrainian kids in Dutch orphanage reading our books

    Books for the Youngest Ukrainian Refugees

    Help us provide free, Ukrainian-language children's books to Ukrainian children forced to flee the war in their homeland.

    Learn more ▶︎
  • Two sunbirds and a flower

    Sunbird: for young refugees from Iran and Afghanistan

    Books for refugee children from Iran and Afghanistan

    Learn more ▶︎
  • I tried to read my kids online books, but it's not the same as if they can hold them in their hands, turn the pages and see the pictures.
    — Anna (refugee from Ukraine)
  • It is wonderful to have at least a little piece of our homeland, through these Ukrainian books.
    — Liliya (refugee from Ukraine)
  • Thank you for the opportunity to read books in our native Ukrainian language. When we first saw them, tears came to our eyes.
    — Oksana (refugee from Ukraine)
  • When you are running for your life, you don’t think about books at all. But time passes and your baby asks you to read a bedtime story… and lo and behold, 5 little books appear in their native Ukrainian language.
    — Nina (refugee from Ukraine, mother of 1)
  • We ordered a set of books for the little Ukrainian boy in our third grade class. He loves them, and has even read one aloud to his classmates!
    — Sietske (Elementary school teacher, the Netherlands)
  • Thank you so much for the joy of books. My daughters were so happy to see folk tales they knew from home.
    — Elena (refugee from Ukraine, mother of 3)
  • Good day! I received the books! What happiness! I'll sit down and read to the children! Thank you very much for such a wonderful job! It's like a balm on a wound!
    — Kseniya (refugee from Ukraine, mother of 2)
  • I am sincerely grateful to my Dutch friends for their help and care. Wonderful books, wonderful Ukrainian language.💗
    — Sofia (refugee from Ukraine, mother of 2)

With your support, we can provide books to the children who need them most.

€ 1 = 1
*

For every euro you donate, we can provide one book to a refugee child.

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