Books Away From Home logo
  • Get books
  • Get involved
  • Donate
    • Our mission
    • What we do
    • Why it matters
    • Meet the team
    • Books for the Youngest Ukrainian Refugees
  • Get books
  • Get involved
  • Contact us
  • Donate
Boy outside 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.

Donate now
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

  • Omslag Kinderen van ver

    Boekentip: Kinderen van ver, van Martine Letterie

    Read more ▶︎
  • My Name is Not Refugee

    Books for young readers about refugees and asylum seekers

    Read more ▶︎
  • 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

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

    Read more ▶︎
  • Books Away From Home logo

    Books Away From Home is here at last!

    Read more ▶︎
  • The first 5 Ukrainian children's books

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

    Read more ▶︎
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.

Learn more
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.

Learn more

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 ▶︎
  • 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)

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

€ 1 = 1
Book icon*

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

Donate nowMore information

*: Exact price per book may vary slightly, depending on rights acquisition, material costs, and other unforeseen expenses.

Get the newsletter

    • Our mission
    • What we do
    • Why it matters
    • Meet the team
    • Books for the Youngest Ukrainian Refugees
    • Get books
    • Get involved
    • Contact us
    • Donate

Our Partners:

  • Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands Logo
  • Ukrainian Book Institute Logo
  • Ten Brink Uitgevers Logo
  • LOWAN Logo
  • Help for Ukraine Foundation
  • logo Kinderzwerfboek
  • logo Dutch Refugee Council, VluchtelingenWerk

© Books Away From Home Foundation 2022
KVK: 87032996