Big Brother Mouse ( lo, ອ້າຍໜູນ້ອຍ / ອ້າຽໜູນ້ອຽ, translit=ʼāi nū nǭi) is a not-for-profit publishing project in Laos. Big Brother Mouse publishes books that improve literacy and quality of life; and on making those books accessible, particularly in rural Lao villages. Books are scarce in Laos. Many people have never read anything except old textbooks and government pamphlets. The project uses the slogan, "Books that make literacy fun!" Its first books, published in 2006, were easy picture books designed to have a strong appeal for children. Since then, it has expanded to publish books for all ages, "designed not only to make reading fun, but also to share information about the wider world."Wells, Bonnie. "Picturing Laos". ''Amherst Bulletin'', August 27, 2010 A growing number of titles focus on health, nutrition, history, and science.

History

The founder, retired book publisher

Sasha Alyson Sasha Alyson (born May 22, 1952) is an American writer and businessman who started Alyson Publications in 1979. He later founded the Boston gay and lesbian newspaper '' Bay Windows'' (1983), the travel company Alyson Adventures (1995) and Big Bro ...

, first visited Laos in May, 2003, and discovered that many children in Lao villages had never seen a book. In fact, he himself “never saw a book in Laos. That gave me the idea for a publishing project here, that would both teach publishing skills and create books.” He began exploring the feasibility of such an idea. Khamla Panyasouk of Big Brother Mouse reads to children

Khamla Panyasouk of Big Brother Mouse reads to children

For three years, Alyson regularly visited Laos from a temporary base in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, exploring the feasibility of the project. He met with governmental officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), teachers, and students. During that period, Alyson also worked with two Lao college students: Khamla Panyasouk and Siphone Vouthisakdee. Together they developed five easy and entertaining books for children, often using popular books from the west for inspiration about how to make books appealing. These first five books were: * ''Frog, Alligator, Buffalo'' by Khamla Panyasouk. This was an

alphabet book An alphabet book is a type of children's book giving basic instruction in an alphabet. Intended for young children, alphabet books commonly use pictures, simple language and alliteration to aid language learning. Alphabet books are published ...

, with a short humorous rhyme for each consonant in the Lao alphabet. (In the Lao alphabet, vowels are not considered part of the regular alphabet.) * ''The Cat that Meditated'' by Siphone Vouthisakdee. Siphone wrote four traditional folktales he had learned from his parents and grandparents. The title story tells about a cat that vows to stop eating meat, so the mice begin to bring it vegetables. But one by one, the mice disappear. * ''Bangkok Bob'' by Sasha Alyson. Inspired by the '' Curious George'' books, this tells about a young monkey who visits Bangkok and is overwhelmed by the skyscrapers and big trucks, which he thinks are tall trees and galloping elephants. * ''Baby Frog, Baby Monkey'' by Siphone Vouthisakdee. Taking inspiration from '' The Foot Book'', by

Dr. Seuss Theodor Seuss Geisel (;"Seuss"
''

Hop on Pop'', this matches short sentences that include an internal rhyme with cartoon images. Three of the books were illustrated by Ounla Santi, a

Vientiane Vientiane ( , ; lo, ວຽງຈັນ, ''Viangchan'', ) is the capital and largest city of Laos. Vientiane is divided administratively into 9 cities with a total area of only approx. 3,920 square kilometres and is located on the banks of ...

art student who has continued to illustrate many books for the project. Two others were illustrated by Tha Tao and Taeng Thaotueheu, high school students who placed first and second in an art contest that Alyson sponsored in an effort to find promising young illustrators. Publishers in Laos are required to have a special publishing license, and each book must be registered with and approved by the government. At the end of 2005, Alyson entered into an agreement with Dokked, a Vientiane-based publisher, to act as publisher for these first five books. They came off the press in March 2006, under the Dokked imprint, but also carrying the Big Brother Mouse logo. The following month a sixth book, ''The Big Chicken'', was published in a similar cooperative arrangement with Action with Lao Children, a Vientiane-based NGO. Soon after that, Sasha agreed with Khamla Panyasouk, author of one of the first books, that they would form a new entity to act as publisher for future books, with Khamla as the owner, and Alyson as the volunteer adviser. In June 2006, Khamla graduated from college, obtained his business license, and then received a publishing license. It was, according to officials, the first publishing license they had ever awarded in Luang Prabang Province, and required extra research for them to learn to how to do it. (It is Lao custom to identify people only by first names, even in formal situations. This article uses that first-name convention for people living in Laos, and last names for people living where that usage is customary.)

First book parties

Although many organizations had expressed interest in purchasing children's books if they were available, few actually did so. Big Brother Mouse began exploring other ways to get books into distribution. On 29 December 2006, they went to a school in Ban Nunsawat, a rural village on the outskirts of Luang Prabang. Khamla discussed the importance of books, Siphone talked about writing books, and Tha Tao gave an art lesson. This developed into the rural school book parties that later became the primary distribution mechanism for Big Brother Mouse books. In its first year, Big Brother Mouse published 30 books, and has continued at approximately that rate. It continues to run book parties in rural schools, and that program has expanded considerably, with 31 of these events in 2007, 196 in 2008, increasing to 510 in 2010.

Village reading rooms

In 2008, Big Brother Mouse began experimenting with another way to create book access in rural villages, by setting up small reading rooms in the home of a volunteer. This is still conducted on a smaller scale than the school book parties. At the end of 2010, there were 146 of these reading rooms, largely in the Ngoi District of Luang Prabang Province, sponsored by the Planet Wheeler Foundation (founded by Lonely Planet publishers Tony and

Maureen Wheeler Maureen Wheeler is a Northern Irish-Australian businesswoman, who co-founded the travel publisher Lonely Planet with her husband Tony Wheeler. Personal life Maureen Wheeler was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and moved to London at the ...

) and the Global Development Group of Australia. The project aims to continue making books available, through village reading rooms such as these in other regions of Laos. This commitment was one of three that was highlighted at the plenary session of the

Clinton Global Initiative The Clinton Foundation (founded in 2001 as the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, and renamed in 2013 as the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation) is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code. It was es ...

, held in Hong Kong in 2008. Tourists also help with distribution. "Give books, not candy", Khamla encourages visitors who want to take a gift when they go to a rural village.Ellis, Lauren. For the Love of Reading. ''Fah Thai magazine'', January–February 2011

The name

The Lao name for the project is ''Aai Nuu Noi'' which literally translates as 'Older brother that is a small rodent'. (Lao uses a single term, ''nuu'', for mice, rats, and other rodents, then distinguishes between types by using adjectives such as small, big, wild, etc.) In deciding on an English translation, Alyson originally considered "Brother Mouse" to avoid any confusion with the Big Brother of George Orwell, but finally decided "Big Brother Mouse" was a catchier name, and that most people would understand it was not related to the Orwellian connotations.

People

(b. 1952), the founder, continues to act as full-time volunteer adviser to the project. All of the paid staff are Lao, and three of them are owners: * Khamla Panyasouk (b. 1983) the original owner, was born in a rural village in Pak Ou District. As the primary owner, he oversees all activities, and handles most government relations. At about age 12, he moved to Luang Prabang and became a novice monk at a Buddhist temple, so that he could continue his education beyond the primary school that was available in his village. He recalls his surprise, in Luang Prabang, when he saw tourists reading books. He was only aware of books as the dull, obsolete textbooks he sometimes had seen in his school, and couldn't imagine why anyone would read them while on vacation. * Siphone Vouthisakdee (b. 1984) Siphone was born in a remote village, where only five children have graduated from primary school. He and Khamla had known each other for many years, first when they were both novice monks, then as students at the Teacher Training College. Siphone has put to paper several collections of Lao folktales, including a collection of stories about Xieng Mieng, the most popular Lao folkhero. He handles a growing range of editorial responsibilities. * Sonesoulilat (Sone) Vongsouline (b. 1990) who received eight years of training at the Children's Cultural Center in Luang Prabang, where he learned to lead children's activities. Sone joined the Big Brother Mouse staff during its first year, when he was 16. His responsibilities quickly increased, and he became a part owner three years later, taking responsibility for hiring, training, and coordinating events in schools and villages.

Books

As of the end of 2010, about two-thirds of the books published by Big Brother Mouse were intended for children up to age 12, although they are also enjoyed by adults, who have not seen such books before. The following sample list of titles shows the range of books the project has produced: * ''Animals of Laos'': A well-illustrated introduction to the country's varied animals, which encourages readers to protect Laos's natural heritage, while introducing simple scientific and environmental ideas. * ''Around the World with 23 Children'': Students from the

Vientiane International School Vientiane International School (VIS) is the only international school in Vientiane, Laos, that offers the International Baccalaureate Programme for grades K - 12. VIS is the only school in Laos accredited by WASC, CIS, and the IB. Profile On 19 ...

wrote about their home countries from their perspective, talking about such topics as popular foods, holidays, customs, landmarks, and animals. * ''Baby Care'': Why is breastfeeding important? What situations call for a visit to the doctor? Why do babies cry? With just one or two sentences per page, this book guides new parents through the first year of their child's life. It was the first book published by Big Brother Mouse that specifically targeted adults rather than children, and sought to directly improve quality of life. The high level of interest that it generated, in rural villages, convinced the staff to continue publishing more such books. * ''The Dead Tiger Who Killed a Princess'': Folktales were once passed along orally, but they risk being forgotten, as television spreads. This collection is the first in a series, which the project plans to continue indefinitely, to preserve them. Already enough stories have been collected for three more volumes. * ''

The Diary of a Young Girl ''The Diary of a Young Girl'', also known as ''The Diary of Anne Frank'', is a book of the writings from the Dutch-language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Nether ...

'':

Anne Frank Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank (, ; 12 June 1929 – )Research by The Anne Frank House in 2015 revealed that Frank may have died in February 1945 rather than in March, as Dutch authorities had long assumed"New research sheds new light on Anne Fra ...

's famous and eloquent diary took four years to translate and get into print; it appeared at the end of 2010. * ''The Hungry Frog'': An 8-page book, by a Khamla, young woman on the project staff who had no writing experience, has colorful illustrations, strong repetition, and a punchy ending; it's intended to draw the interest of very beginning readers. * ''The Joy of Reading'': A small book, inspired by the

Mem Fox Merrion Frances "Mem" Fox, AM (born Merrion Frances Partridge; 5 March 1946) is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and ...

classic ''Reading Magic'', encourages parents to read aloud to their children, and gives some pointers about how to do so. * ''Laos 1957'': Anthropologist Joel Halpern came to Laos for a year, in 1957, and preserved some 3,000 color slides, with detailed captions. They provided the basis for a book which, for most Lao readers, is their first chance to see the world of their parents and grandparents. * ''

The Little Mermaid "The Little Mermaid" ( da, Den lille havfrue) is a literary fairy tale written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The story follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid to gain a ...

'':

Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Andersen's fairy tales, consist ...

’s romantic classic has been popular particularly with teenagers and young adults. * ''New, Improved Buffalo'': This story of a boy who improves his buffalo, by adding an umbrella, then a television, wings, extra legs, and more, was illustrated by Chittakone, a 14-year-old boy who won the second art contest sponsored by Big Brother Mouse. * ''Proverbs of Laos'': Young people at the Children's Cultural Center and at the Orphanage School in Luang Prabang interviewed parents and grandparents to select a favorite proverb, then illustrated it. * ''Spectacular!'': Eye-catching photographs, obtained through

Wikimedia Foundation The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., or Wikimedia for short and abbreviated as WMF, is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Francisco, California and registered as a charitable foundation under local laws. Best kno ...

and

Creative Commons Creative Commons (CC) is an American non-profit organization and international network devoted to educational access and expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has releas ...

licensing, show microbes, galaxies, and everything in between. * ''Traditional Toys'': Photos and text show how Lao villages have, for generations, made and enjoyed toys from natural objects. * ''Wat Xieng Thong, the stories of Siaosawat'': The Buddhist

Wat Xieng Thong Wat Xieng Thong ( lo, ວັດຊຽງທອງ; "Temple of the Golden City") is a Buddhist temple (vat or wat) on the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Phrabang, Laos.Lall, Vikram. ''The Golden Lands: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar ...

temple, the most famous temple in

Luang Prabang Luang Phabang, ( Lao: ຫລວງພະບາງ/ ຫຼວງພະບາງ) or ''Louangphabang'' (pronounced ), commonly transliterated into Western languages from the pre-1975 Lao spelling ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ (ຣ = silent r ...

has a chapel decorated with mirrored mosaics, that tell parables of a past age. * ''What's in the Sky?'': The spectacular photographs provided in recent years by

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeedi ...

were the backdrop for one of the project's first science books. * ''Women's Health'': Four chapters about women's anatomy, pregnancy, and childbirth, from the

Hesperian Foundation Hesperian Health Guides, formerly known as Hesperian Foundation, is a nongovernmental non-profit organization publishing health guides for trained and untrained people to care for themselves and others. The foundation is based in Berkeley, Califor ...

's book ''Where Women Have No Doctor''.

Organizational structure and affiliations

Lao law does not have a provision for

non-profit organizations A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

of the type that exist in many Western countries. Big Brother Mouse operates under a standard Lao business license, but on a not-for-profit basis. In 2010 it reported total income of US$326,000, from these sources: * 26% from foundations (Australia, USA, and Europe) * 27% from large individual donors (US$10,000 or more) * 29% from individual donors (less than US$10,000 U.S.) * 18% from sales of books Most US donors contribute through the Laos Literacy Project, Inc., a 501-c-3 non-profit organization in the United States that was established specifically to support Big Brother Mouse's literacy and education work. Significant support also comes from Planet Wheeler Foundation and the Global Development Group (GDG) in Australia, and most Australian donors contribute through the GDG to receive an Australian tax deduction.

Notes

{{reflist

External links

Big Brother Mouse official websiteLaos Literacy Project, Inc. (USA)Global Development Group (Australia)
Social enterprises Education in Laos Rural culture Publishing by country Children's books