About Pipal Pustak

About Pipal Pustak (Pipal Book)

The Pipal trees are a well known feature in Nepali life. In the shade of the spreading Pipal trees, travelers rest and chat with village friends, exchanging news and sharing life stories and experiences. However, these stories, once heard are often forgotten. Events and stories are lost. Pipal Books seek to preserve this rich oral history in Nepal and at the same time, develop literacy skills among new readers.

What are the Pipal Books about?

Some books tell of the ordinary and familiar situations such as struggling with health problems, forced to leave one's land, conflict situations, accidents, being widowed, and being denied education opportunities. Some books tell of extraordinary events. Events such as fighting in wars, earthquakes and helicopter flights.

Who are Pipal Books for?

Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills develop among new readers as these books are used, typically in non formal education group settings. Writers are selected from the many language people groups in Nepal. This is with the intention of having relevant books in local languages.

There is normally vigorous discussion surrounding the story. The reading and discussion help people to develop new awareness and sympathies and gain insight into alternatives for action. Some stories also display circumstances where people have shown special courage and determination or resourcefulness in overcoming great obstacles. These stories give special inspiration and example to readers.

These books are produced using the Language Experience Method, by which the author speaks about his or her personal experiences and someone else writes the words down. This produces a natural oral flow and predictability so that the adult new reader can easily anticipate what may be coming next. This increases the reader's fluency and confidence and can provide an easy transition from oral communication to written communication.

Later on in the year, the books are field tested and then printed at a high quality with a colorful laminated cover. These books are attractive and durable for use in Non-Formal Education classes, in reading corner, in library and in the home. These Pipal books can also be a welcome addition to any library, and to any place where people must wait for any length of time, for example for hospital patients.

Grades

Pipal Books are graded in four levels of reading difficulty, identified by the color of the title band on the cover:

Color code Reading level
Red Level : Easy, Beginners level.
Purple Level : For newly developing readers, easy reading.
Blue Level : Aimed at more competent literate readers.
Green Level : For the most advanced readers.

ERDCN has been producing and selling Pipal Pustak through its Resource Center. Fifty titles of Pipal Pustak are available in Resource Center of ERDCN.