Axum, an ancient Ethiopian city, once rivaled Persia and Rome in wealth and influence. It was a trade hub through which precious metals, silks and ideas fueled a thriving economy and vibrant culture.

A series of fair-minded Ethiopian Kings offered peoples of many faiths to find sanctuary from threats abroad, and for centuries Christians, Muslims and Jews have shared Axum in peace. For thousands of years, Ethiopia has been known around the world as a land of justice and wisdom.

Share this heart-warming tale of religious tolerance with your young reader. Side by side text in Afaan Oromo and English supports bilingual readers and colorful illustrations by Ethiopian artist Alemayehu “Alex” Regassa give beautiful context to the vast and fascinating history of West Africa.

Written by Jane Kurtz for the Open Hearts Big Dreams series of bilingual books in indigenous Ethiopian languages. Every book you purchase helps support increasing literacy in Ethiopia and preserving ancient languages.

Open Hearts Big Dreams Ready Set Go (OHBD-RSG) Books were created to help increase the literacy rate in Ethiopia through giving readers books with stories in their heart languages, full of colorful illustrations with Ethiopian settings and details. Profits from book sales are used to create, print, and distribute more OHBD-RSG books to kids in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country.

Ethiopia’s population has a high percentage of children ages 0-14. Only a small percentage attend pre-school or kindergarten, and the adult literacy rate is around 50%.

Some of our books are based on wise Ethiopian sayings that often rhyme in Amharic. If an adult says the first half, many children can chant the second half.

Sometimes the meaning of these sayings is clear. Sometimes it has to be puzzled out and argued over.

But sayings and idioms and proverbs help people express truths and beliefs in unusual ways. Other books are based on STEAM topics, cooking, colors, counting and more.

Since late 2017, OHBD has published over 150 unique OHBD-RSG bilingual titles in a number of Ethiopian, African and global languages plus English and has plans to publish more titles and add more languages. New titles or languages are added monthly; follow our author page to get new release announcements.

Open Hearts Big Dreams Fund (OHBD) is a 501(3)(c) not for profit organization that believes the chance to dream big dreams should not depend on where in the world you are born. Our mission is to inspire and enable youth in Ethiopia through Literacy, Innovation, Inclusion and Leadership Projects in collaboration with individuals and organizations in Ethiopia and globally.

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