Finding Authentic, Global Books for Your Students
As an educator, you know the feeling. You’re searching for a book that will connect with your multilingual students, that reflects their experiences without oversimplifying the language. A book that feels real.
But you keep finding books written for a native-speaking audience, with cultural references that fly over their heads. Or you find graded readers that, while useful, lack the soul and beauty of an authentic piece of literature.
We believe your readers deserve to see themselves, their families, and their wider world in the pages of a great book. That’s why we created Kibi.
The Global Reality of Your Classroom
Here’s something we know you’ve seen firsthand: the world of English is bigger than any one country.
Of the nearly 1.5 billion English speakers worldwide, over two-thirds use it as an additional language. Your classroom reflects this global reality. Your students come from diverse cultural backgrounds. They have rich family histories but may feel disconnected from their heritage as expats, migrants, or members of diaspora communities.
This is Where Kibi Comes In
We are librarians and language teachers who have lived this challenge. Kibi is our solution. Our mission is to meet the needs of your readers by:
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Curating incredible books from authors and publishers across the globe.
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Connecting teachers and librarians with these creators through events and forums.
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Creating our own Kibi collection of books written especially for diverse, international readers.
The Kibi Book Philosophy
We don’t sell books directly. We’re here to help you find the perfect ones. Every book we feature is chosen with these four principles in mind:
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Accessible, Not Simplified: Kibi books feature accessible language, but they are not abridged. Your readers get the satisfaction of reading a real, beautifully written book.
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Genuinely Global: Our goal is to connect you with international publishers so your readers can discover engaging stories written by authors from their own regions and in their home languages.
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Inspiring Action & Curiosity: These aren’t just stories. They are windows into new cultures and traditions that inspire readers to be curious and care for the world around them.
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Perfectly for the Middle: We specialize in middle grade (grades 5-8). We know how tough it can be to find the right book for this age group, and we’ve made it our focus.
Ready to Find the Perfect Book?
Stop the endless searching. Start discovering literature that will finally connect with your students.
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Participate in the kibi community by reviewing books, and recommending your favs.
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Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest recommendations.
Let’s work together to ensure that every kid can find themselves and connect with others in a good book.
