Producing literature using shell books

Shell books were first produced in Papua New Guinea. SIL literacy workers there saw the potential of using computers to develop shells of existing books. They could then use a shell to produce the same book in several different languages or dialects.

Shell book production has increased greatly since then. Shells and shell books are now being produced in many countries.

Here are some guidelines to follow when you produce literature using shell books:

• Consider using shell books mostly for the intermediate stage of a literacy program when simple materials are needed.

  • They are not recommended at the primer and beginning reading level because those materials should be very language-and culture-specific.
  • They are not the best choice for higher level literature, which has mostly text with few pictures.
• Be sure that subjects, texts, formats, and illustrations are culturally appropriate. This is extremely important. Do not assume that a book that works in one area will work in another.

• Use shell books that are of interest to multiple language or dialect groups.

  Examples:
  • Agricultural, health, and other community development information
  • Civic information such as voting procedures, road rules, and government policies
  • Cultural themes which are similar for several cultures
  • Educational subjects
  • Religious materials
  • Books that have proven to be popular in several language groups

• Involve community members in choosing, translating, testing, and producing the books.
• Have local authors write or develop local language texts from the original texts whenever possible.
• Do extensive testing to determine that the shell books are acceptable both linguistically and culturally.

1. Develop your own shell, then make it available to others.
2. Modify or use an existing electronic shell to produce a book.
3. Use a preprinted shell to produce a book.

• Schema theory, reading, shell books, and curriculum development
• Designing original Shell Books
• Cost of producing Shell Books
• Making a simple paper cutter for A4-sized paper
• Our experience with Shell Books

• Cummings 1992
• Cooper 1990
• Trainum and Snyder 1989

• Task module: Producing literature using shell books
• In task module: Designing printed materials
• In task module: Producing printed materials, by Anne Klaassens (contributor), Robin Rempel (contributor), Trudy K. Stewart (general editor, contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), Diane Wroge (contributor), and Adelle R. Walter (illustrator)
• In task module: Developing instructional materials, by Trudy K. Stewart, Leah B. Walter (contributor), and Trudi C. Hunt (contributor)
• In task module: Developing an instructional program, by Kenneth A. Boothe (contributor), Patricia M. Davis (contributor), Trudy K. Stewart (general editor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), and Adelle R. Walter (illustrator)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 22 October 1999

© 1999 SIL International