Little Toller launches dual-language imprint for children displaced by war

Little Toller Books is launching an imprint dedicated to dual-language books for children displaced by conflict. 

Starting with Ukrainian titles, Pineapple Lane will publish books written, translated and illustrated by authors and artists who have also been disrupted by war. The titles will be available free to displaced families and the communities where displaced families are living in the UK to enable cultural exchange and understanding in schools, libraries and other grassroots organisations.

In order to support the imprint, Little Toller has started a crowdfunder through which it hopes to raise £15,000. The publisher said it aims to publish the first six titles in mid-April 2023 in time for Ukrainian Easter celebrations.

Pineapple Lane has its roots in Packed with Hope, a campaign that enabled the Dorset-based publishing house Little Toller to deliver 10,000 book-filled backpacks to children in the Ukraine, those forced across borders into Poland and Romania as well as Ukranian children in the UK.

Since the war in Ukraine started, more than six million people have fled the country. The UK Government has processed more than 206,000 visas for Ukrainian refugees this year, the vast majority of them being women and children. 

The imprint will focus on stories, often familiar folktales or cultural myths, in the the hope that affected children and families will find comfort in reading or speaking in their mother tongue. Because each book will also be published in English, printed side-by-side, Little Toller says the books will also be useful tools in the exchange of language and culture in schools, with host families, or among other community organisations that work with refugees. 

Gracie Cooper, co-owner of Little Toller Books and publisher of Pineapple Lane, said: “I am delighted that we are now ready to launch our crowd-funder. Ever since I started the Packed With Hope campaign I have been on a huge journey. The launch of our imprint Pineapple Lane expresses our belief in the importance of dual-language, mother-tongue books for children.” 

While Pineapple Lane is focusing on Ukrainian-language books for now, it intends to expand to other communities displaced by war in the long term. It will also set up a standalone website where people can purchase copies of the books.