The Speaking Book series addresses the worldwide issue of low literacy, which the publisher (Books of Hope) claims is a potentially life-threatening problem affecting over 785 million adults. People with low health literacy are 12 to 18 times more likely to not understand, ignore, or confuse the correct medical treatment and preventative measures, and therefore highly likely to suffer further affliction. Speaking Books empowers the user, whether a low literacy adult or pre-school child, to look, listen, and learn, so that the message is clearly understood and retained.

Books of Hope, in association with SADAG (the South African Depression and Anxiety Group), design and produce these interactive, multilingual Speaking Books that can be seen, read, heard, and understood by the reader regardless of their reading ability. These hard-backed books feature a soundtrack, read by well-known local personalities, to take the reader on a step-by-step guide to wellness and encourage readers to build self-confidence through a simple action plan.

Following the launch of the first Speaking Book in 2005 - "Suicide Shouldn't Be a Secret", which was designed to educate South African rural teens on suicide prevention - the series has expanded dramatically to include over 30 titles in 12 different languages from countries around the world - including China, India, the United States (US), and Sub-Saharan African and South American countries.

Speaking Book topics include:

• HIV and AIDS
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Malaria
• Mental Health
• Teen Sexual Awareness
• Suicide Prevention
• Child-Headed Households
• Home-Based Care Workers
• Clinical Trials
• Government Grants
• Substance Abuse
• Paediatric Immunisation
  

Initially created to meet the health care education needs of Africa's rural and disadvantaged communities and as a means of overcoming low levels of literacy on that continent, the Books of Hope series is now being used worldwide. Speaking Books are distributed free of charge to the communities they serve, and are paid for by government departments, foundations, and other organisations.

Speaking Books are made to order and to meet any health care or community need - from educating young children on such health care issues such as diabetes and asthma, and how they can cope with their illness, to opening a bank account, or buying a first home.

To request a sample Speaking Book or discuss a particular communication requirement, please use the contact information below.

Books of Hope website on September 2 2005; and emails from Brian Julius to The Communication Initiative on May 21 2009 and May 22 2009.