Learning Objectives
The NABU app aims to provide children with free access to high quality bilingual and culturally relevant story books in order to grow language comprehension skills and a love of reading.

Reading
Last updated: September 17, 2025
The NABU app aims to provide children with free access to high quality bilingual and culturally relevant story books in order to grow language comprehension skills and a love of reading.
Widely adopted in 5 countries
39 languages
Target audience: Educators and teachers, Institutional or administrative staff, Parents or guardians
Early Childhood Education, Primary Education
Works offline but connectivity for updates required
Smartphone, Tablet, Desktop/Laptop
The information presented is provided by the company, and reviewed in good faith. Learning Cabinet is not responsible for inaccurate content.
How this product was evaluated?NABU is based on constructivist and socio-cultural learning theories, providing children with accessible, culturally relevant, mother-tongue content. Through the Authentic Book Creation Lab and Bridge to Literacy Program, it fosters motivation, self-esteem, and literacy skills. Impact is measured via a clear Theory of Change, the 2023 Impact Study (showing gains in self-esteem and love of reading), research sprints on engagement, and stories from children, parents, and educators.
NABU’s multilingual web reader and mobile app shows a proven positive impact, backed by at least one experimental study that shows a statistically significant positive impact on the intended learning outcomes.
Different levels of research evidence indicate the reliability of the proof of positive impact. The solutions featured in the Learning Cabinet range from:
The NABU 2023 Impact Study found that sustained app users showed higher self-esteem (+0.21, p
Recommended use
Research shows that enjoying reading boosts literacy and self-efficacy, as more time spent reading leads to higher achievement. Just 10–15 minutes a day improves vocabulary and overall development. We recommend using the NABU app or web reader for at least 10–15 minutes daily.
Research shows that enjoying reading boosts literacy and self-efficacy, as more time spent reading leads to higher achievement. Just 10–15 minutes a day improves vocabulary and overall development. We recommend using the NABU app or web reader for at least 10–15 minutes daily.
Target audience
The NABU app aims to provide children with free access to high quality bilingual and culturally relevant story books in order to grow language comprehension skills and a love of reading.
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NABU designs digital experiences grounded in Cognitive Learning Theory, Sociocultural Learning Theory, and the Science of Reading. We integrate these by offering culturally relevant stories that build on prior knowledge, audio-supported texts to strengthen comprehension, and short quizzes to reinforce vocabulary, inference, and fluency. This approach increases engagement, supports background knowledge, and promotes effective reading development through meaningful, accessible practice.
NABU is committed to providing an intuitive and user-friendly interface so children, parents, and educators can easily navigate and engage with our digital library.
Here are some ways we ensure an intuitive user interface and examples of improvements over time:
NABU leverages a data-driven approach to continuously enhance our product and improve learning outcomes. We collect and analyze data to understand how our digital library impacts literacy development and use these insights for product improvements.
Here’s how we use evidence and data insights to inform enhancements:
By systematically collecting and analyzing data, NABU ensures enhancements are evidence-based and directly improve literacy outcomes for children.
NABU’s product was developed with a particular focus on regions with historically low literacy rates and limited access to educational resources. Our primary geographical focus includes:
NABU is entirely free for all users, aligning with our mission to provide every child access to culturally relevant storybooks and improve their literacy skills without financial barriers. We achieve this through a sustainable funding model that relies on grants, donations, and partnerships with philanthropic organizations, governments, and corporate sponsors. Our strategic partnerships with educational institutions, NGOs, and community organizations support our initiatives and ensure the platform's sustainability. By leveraging cost-effective, low-bandwidth technology and scalable digital solutions, we maintain and expand our services while keeping them free. Our community-centric approach involves training and employing local authors and illustrators, ensuring culturally relevant content and supporting local economies. We also use data-driven decisions to demonstrate our platform's impact, securing ongoing financial support and maximizing accessibility and educational impact.
NABU has successfully scaled across 11 different countries, training over 1,000 artists and creatives and developing not only a pedagogical blueprint but also a highly successful creative fellowship program that produces original content tailored for each new market we enter.
Our content creation success has led us to collaborate on major projects with prominent organizations such as World Vision in Rwanda, Save the Children in Kenya, UNHCR globally, WhatsApp in Nigeria, and HP globally. These partnerships have significantly expanded our reach, helping us deliver culturally relevant and engaging literacy materials to over 14 million children worldwide.
Through these large-scale projects, NABU has established itself as a key player in global literacy initiatives, providing invaluable resources to historically excluded children and fostering a love of reading across diverse communities.

Evaluated using the Learning Cabinet’s rigorous EdTech for Good Framework to ensure safety, learning impact, scalability, and inclusion for all learners.
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