Badger Learning publishes 12 dual-language paperbacks for Ukrainian children

Educational publisher Badger Learning is publishing 12 English-Ukrainian dual-language paperbacks on 31st March 2023, in response to the demand for high-quality resources to support Ukrainian children.

The new Alien Detective Agency series, written by Roger Hurn and Jane West and translated by Yana Surkova, is being published alongside the six original titles initially offered as free e-books in June 2022. The text is provided in English on the left-hand page, with the right-hand page translated into Ukrainian.

Distributed by the publisher in response to the war, more than 14,000 copies of the original books have been downloaded from all over the world, including in Ukraine. A survey assessing the types of books that were most in demand informed the decision to publish the Alien Detective Agency series, suitable for both KS2 and KS3 (ages eight to 14), alongside paperbacks of the first books.

Comprehension is supported by illustrations and the use of simple language. All the books are also available as e-books, and the publisher is offering a free audio MP3 file for the Alien Detective Agency series to support listening skills.

The original books were included in a gov.uk list of resources, which has helped them get discovered by thousands of teachers. The publisher said it has already increased its initial print run to meet demand from bookshops, schools and library suppliers.

Badger Learning editor Claire Morgan said: “While we wanted to publish these quite quickly, we were keen to ensure we didn’t compromise on quality. There were challenges to overcome for our design and editorial staff in working with Cyrillic script, so it was important to get it right. These books have been translated and proofed by two native Ukrainian speakers to ensure maximum accessibility for our readers.”

Haven Books Group marketing manager Nina Bueno del Carpio is hosting a Ukrainian family herself. This has made her aware of the challenges faced by 14-year-old Andrei, who is trying to integrate into secondary school with limited English.

She said: “I have found reading with Andrei is helpful as we cover so much more vocabulary than in the sort of practical conversations we often have at home. Publishing the dual-language eBooks seemed a must, and the whole team came together to make this project happen, including our m.d. and chairman Steve Cheetham, who was happy to give the e-books away.”

Hurn, one of the authors of the books, added: “It is really great to know that Jack and Wanda are going to help so many children. This is such exciting news. I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to make this project a roaring success.”