Three manuscripts at the printing house

Yesterday we sent the manuscript of the geographic picture book to the printing house in Antanananrivo. It will arrive there tomorrow and the process of test printing can begin. It is always hard to separate from a manuscript which has been worked on for many months, but we are satisfied with the result and eager to see it released as a book.

The manuscripts of Ampanirio, the environment book and the second edition of Dangaligny and Konaky have already been at the printing house for some weeks. We are now waiting for a second, corrected test print of Ampanirio before we can sign the printing contract. However, we hope to be able to do it this week so that the printing can begin as soon as possible.

Vakoka Vakiteny has got ISBN Numbers

Today Vakoka Vakiteny received 10 ISBNs (International Standard Book Number) from the agency in charge of the international francophone literature. All future books we publish will now have this number, which will make it internationally recognizable.

Maps for the geographic picture book

All the maps for the geographic picture book are now finished and we are indeed very satisfied with the result! The illustrator we first intended to use was hindered. Therefore we were very thankful when Dr. Klaus-Christian Küspert offered to make them. We received eight artistic maps from him in a very short time. They are all hand painted with many details and symbols.

The manuscript has now been proofread by teachers and people with higher education in geography. We have begun negotiations with several organizations about this book and we have got positive feedback on the manuscript already. Therefore we hope that some of them will decide to buy a large number of copies of the geographic picture book from us already in advance of the printing.

Distribution of Uncle Tefy

The 385 books for the schools in Ambohimanambola and the surrounding were distributed in January and February. We have now got the report and the pictures from the distribution, and they are very encouraging. All the children in the 5^th grade at seven schools received their book, and they also brought their parents to listen to the training about literature and reading.

Teachers and pupils carrying the books to their school

Pupils in Ambohimanambola

Pupils in Ambalavao (Ambohimanambola)

Parents gathered in the classroom

The green book “Ampanirio” has been sent to the printing house

We have now sent the manuscript of the environment book "Ampanirio" written by young people from Antsirabe to the printing house in Antananarivo. It remains to wait for the test print which we hope will come not too long after Easter.

One of the paintings included in the book, made by the girl Hasina

The youth in Toliara is interested in books

Today we were at the marked place again, as last Saturday. There were even more people stepping by today, and many took their time looking at the books and reading. We are very happy that so many especially young people are interested in our books. Many of them asked us to come to the market place every day and not once a week, but unfortunately this will be impossible for us.
Next Saturday, however, we will be at the same place again together with our books.

There was a person stepping by today who turned out to be a poet and asked for cooperation. We hope that our approach will make us known to other authors, poets and illustrators in order to be able to promote the talents of Toliara’s youth.

Public launching of Uncle Tefy

Today was the official launching of the book Uncle Tefy in Toliara city center near the market place. We made it very simple and brought the books in our car which we positioned on the place we had been given by the municipality.

We brought information material and books, and there were many people passing by to ask what we were doing. For most of them, children’s books in Malagasy language was a totally new thing, and they were very eager to hear more about our work. We also met representatives from schools and bookstores here in Toliara.

We have promised to be present at the same place almost every Saturday now, so that those who want to bring friends or colleagues can come and talk to us. We hope that we will be able to sell books and make negotiations concerning distribution during the next few Saturdays. We also plan to have readings for children here.