Author Description

A cheeky mouse learns a valuable lesson in this fable based on an Ethiopian proverb for practice in reading Afaan Oromo and English. Ready Set Go Books, an Open Hearts Big Dreams Project (http: //openheartsbigdreams.org/book-project/), is focused on increasing the literacy rate in Ethiopia through giving readers books with stories in their heart languages, full of colorful illustrations with Ethiopian settings and details.Ready Set Go books are often based on wise sayings from Ethiopia that many people know and use. The sayings often rhyme in Amharic. If an adult says the first half, many children can chant the second half. Sometimes the meaning of these sayings is clear. Sometimes it has to be puzzled out and argued over. But sayings and idioms and proverbs help people express truths and beliefs in unusual ways.Illustrations in this book were created by children's book author Jane Kurtz working with her Ethiopian-American grandchildren, Ellemae and Noh Goering, donating their artistic efforts to spread book love around the world. Their work was supplemented by art created by students at Findley Elementary School in Beaverton, Oregon and digital design by Kenny and Ashley Rasmussen.Ready Set Go Books, an Open Hearts Big Dreams Project, is focused on increasing the literacy rate in Ethiopia through giving readers books with stories in their heart languages, full of colorful illustrations with Ethiopian settings and details. Profits from books sales will be used to create, print, and distribute more Ready Set Go Books to kids in Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country. Ethiopia's population is 44% children, ages 0-14 (43 million out of 97 million total). Only 5.5% of children attend pre-school or kindergarten, and the adult literacy rate is 49%. Our books are based on wise Ethiopian sayings that often rhyme in Amharic. If an adult says the first half, many children can chant the second half. Sometimes the meaning of these sayings is clear. Sometimes it has to