News: Schools in Wales receive thousands of free books through Rhyngom project
Schools across Wales are set to receive 49,000 free books in the final phase of the Rhyngom project supported by Adnodd.
Rhyngom is a three-year project aimed at publishing more reading books for children and young people that celebrate and promote diversity. It is delivered by the Books Council of Wales and funded by Welsh Government and Adnodd.
Celebrating stories and voices from every community
Since 2022, Rhyngom has supported the creation of 20 brand new original books in both Welsh and English, as well as 28 Welsh-language adaptations of existing English titles. The books aim to reflect the diversity of Wales today and ensure that young readers can see themselves and their experiences reflected in what they read.
The specially commissioned original titles include works by both first-time and award-winning authors. The adapted books include well-known stories such as Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah (Un o Blant y Windrush, adapted/translated by Rhys Iorwerth) and Boys don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman (Gormod o Ddyn, adapted/translated by Manon Steffan Ros).
Free books for schools across Wales
As the final phase of the project, every state primary and secondary school in Wales will receive free copies of the Rhyngom books this term, a total of 49,000 books reaching 1,474 schools across the country. Each box of books also includes educational resources that help teachers and learners explore the stories’ themes in more depth.
Pupils at Ysgol Hamadryad in Cardiff were among the first to receive their books during a special visit from author Rebecca Wilson, who led a creative workshop based on her book The Winter Festival / Gŵyl y Gaeaf. Adnodd Chief Executive Emyr George joined the session alongside representatives from the Books Council of Wales.
A partnership for inclusion and creativity
The Rhyngom project has worked in partnership with organisations including Black History Wales, DARPL, Disability Wales, Race Council Cymru, the Romani Cultural and Arts Company, and Stonewall Cymru. Each contributed their expertise to ensure the books and resources reflect the diverse experiences and communities of Wales.
“At Adnodd, we’re proud to have supported the Rhyngom project,” said Adnodd Chief Executive Emyr George. “These books reflect the diversity of Wales today and offer learners stories they can see themselves in, whether through language, culture, experience or identity. When learners feel seen, they engage more deeply in their learning. And when teachers have high-quality, inclusive resources, they can spark powerful conversations in the classroom, school yard and beyond.”
Adnodd has also commissioned educational resources to accompany all 48 titles in the Rhyngom project, along with videos of the authors talking about their books. Many of these are currently available for free on Hwb, with more to be added during the 2025 autumn term.
All Rhyngom titles are available to buy from local bookshops. You can also find the full list of titles and learn more about the project on the Books Council of Wales website.