Literacy Games (Publications in Language Use and Education)

Whether you're supporting literacy in a school, a community center, or at home, this book is for you. Designed for children and adults alike, it can be used anywhere from bustling cities to remote villages. Inside are participatory, low-tech games built from simple materials you can make or gather locally. Each one includes clear, step-by-step instructions, creative variations, and tips for adapting to different group sizes, languages, and scripts. These games are more than just fun. They are powerful, hands-on tools for building essential literacy skills through lively, engaging learning.

Literacy Games is a practical resource for teacher trainers, classroom teachers, and communities supporting literacy in their own languages. Its adaptable activities also make it a valuable guide for ESL/EFL teachers, homeschoolers, and educators working in dominant languages.

The book is printed in full color on 70-pound paper, with beautiful illustrations throughout.

Susan Gary Walters is a linguist with SIL Global and an adjunct professor with the Center for Excellence in World Arts at Dallas International University. She holds an MA in linguistics and a PhD in intercultural education and has spent more than twenty years working with minority communities in Asia. Her work focuses on literacy, learning, and the role of language and cultural arts in strengthening communities.

Heidi Cobbey is a literacy and education consultant with SIL Global who has spent over twenty years supporting literacy in minority-language communities. She holds an MA in linguistics and has worked with the Dong-Han Bilingual Education Project in Guizhou, China, and the Dai-Han Bilingual Education Project in Xishuangbanna, China, partnering with educators and community members to develop curriculum, train teachers, and expand the reading materials available for learners.