What We Do: Cartoonize Communities
We’re the go-to “cartoonizers” in the humanitarian field.
We create representation through cartoonization for displaced communities in need of cultural preservation and informal resources. We sell our own products, offer teacher trainings, and work as education consultants to design custom projects for organizations and companies.
Our simple approach allows us to dip our toes into an endless pool of topics, reaching both literate and illiterate learners in a culturally sensitive way.
Why We Do It
Representation
for the world’s most marginalized communities
Preservation
for ethnic minority language and culture
Creation
of community-based informal learning
Every project is designed to be contextualized to any community in the world, making our projects easily expandable.
Projects are designed based on the immediate needs in focus communities.
Picture Dictionaries
Rohingya, Afghan, USA
Culturally sensitive, inclusive Picture Dictionaries & Teacher Guides to represent refugee and immigrant communities. Designed to be used by anyone, literate or illiterate, at home or at school.
Coloring Books
Afghan, Rohingya, Ukrainian, Bangla, Syrian
Culturally sensitive, inclusive coloring books designed to represent the refugees’ home countries to give them a sense of familiarity & representation. Great resource to aid in the trauma-healing process.
Girls' Books
Rohingya, Afghan
Culturally sensitive women’s health books tailored for girls living in vulnerable communities. Designed to introduce female-sensitive conversations and promote healthy lifestyle changes.
Did you purchase one of our books? Take 2 minutes to fill out this survey and give us some feedback!
“Every child deserves education wherever they come from. I really love how Books Unbound is trying to relate their culture and daily activities in the form of art. This supports children so they realize and learn their own culture.”
– Artist from Books Unbound’s team
“I cannot express how grateful we are towards the industrious and compassionate team behind Books Unbound – for its amazing and creative works undertaken to make the lives of the Rohingya refugees better and hopeful. Thank you a million times.”
– Rohingya human rights activist
“This picture dictionary will help them to understand and improve their culture in better ways. Students enjoy the cartoons so much. It’s a creative learning tool and would be a very good tool for students with disabilities.”
– Rohingya teacher, Rohingya Picture Dictionary | Bangladesh
“What [Books Unbound] is doing is so awesome. They are educating children with their books but educating them while staying in their culture and learning their culture. If only we could do that for every culture that would be so awesome!”
– Student | University of Colorado
“I was surprised and very happy when I opened the picture dictionary for the first time. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a book that’s translated into three languages.”
– Rohingya teacher, Picture Dictionary program | Bangladesh
“It’s very different. This book is translated into three language specially in Rohingya so it’s easy to read and understand. And it’s only for girls and all the topics are very important for the girls. We want more books and program like this. I do physical activity at least 60 minutes a day since I learnt it from this program.”
– Rohingya student, Girls’ Program | Bangladesh
“I’m beyond grateful for the resources that Books Unbound has created! I work with many families from all around the world but primarily serve a lot of Afghan families. Having a book with English and Dari is so helpful! The kids are also so intrigued to see their own culture represented, especially now that they are in a new country for refuge. Thank you for all of your hard work, Books Unbound!”
– Volunteer, Afghan Picture Dictionary | Arizona, USA
“My Picture Dictionary was created by Books Unbound. It is one of the best educational tools for the Rohingya students.”
– Rohingya teacher, Rohingya Picture Dictionary | Bangladesh
“This picture dictionary gives me so much confidence in my ability to make good sense of my own thoughts and feelings regarding my cultural identity. The most important specialty of this book is that it’s based on my culture. Thank you Books Unbound for blessing me with this beautiful piece of creative book.”
– Rohingya student, Rohingya Picture Dictionary | Bangladesh
“Books Unbound reaches out to educate refugees that are stuck in the “in-between.” In these refugee camps, lots of cultural knowledge is lost or forgotten, such as languages, certain practices, etc. But Books Unbound’s method of education is like a middle ground.”
– Student | University of Colorado
“This is the first book which is ever written by putting our cultural characteristics. For this reason I can easily understand the meaning of the words.”
– Rohingya student, Rohingya Picture Dictionary | Bangladesh
Rohingya women in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp
Check out this feature that highlights Maiya School, one of our partners in Kutupalong, Bangladesh (start at 5:19).
Students at Maiya School are currently using our Girls’ Program in their school. These books were donated to them by the generous support of our donors.
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