Frequently Asked Questions
About the books
What are Kids Reading Armenian books?
Kids Reading Armenian books are Armenian-language board books for babies and toddlers, written by Taline Badrikian. Each one is a short, illustrated story with a positive message, such as kindness, friendship, teamwork, healthy habits or bedtime.
The books include transliterated text, so parents who don't read the Armenian alphabet can still read them aloud.
The books include transliterated text, so parents who don't read the Armenian alphabet can still read them aloud.
What age are Kids Reading Armenian books for?
Kids Reading Armenian books are made for children ages 0 to 3, but can be enjoyed by kids of any age. They are sturdy board books with thick pages that babies can handle on their own, and the stories are short enough for a toddler's attention span.
What Armenian children's books does Kids Reading Armenian offer?
Kids Reading Armenian publishes five board books:
•Բարի Ջրարջը (Pari Churarchuh - The Kind Raccoon): a raccoon who helps others with kindness.
•Մարզասէր Նապիկը (Mahrzaser Nahbeeguh - Healthy & Fit Bunny): staying healthy through sports and play.
•Անուշ Քուն, Բարի Երազ (Anoush Koon, Pari Yeraz - Sweet Sleep, Good Dream): a bunny who tries everything to avoid bedtime.
•Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy): friendship and accepting friends as they are.
•Աշխատասէր Մրջիւններ (Ashkhadaser Mrchyoonner - Diligent Ants): teamwork and working together.
•Բարի Ջրարջը (Pari Churarchuh - The Kind Raccoon): a raccoon who helps others with kindness.
•Մարզասէր Նապիկը (Mahrzaser Nahbeeguh - Healthy & Fit Bunny): staying healthy through sports and play.
•Անուշ Քուն, Բարի Երազ (Anoush Koon, Pari Yeraz - Sweet Sleep, Good Dream): a bunny who tries everything to avoid bedtime.
•Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy): friendship and accepting friends as they are.
•Աշխատասէր Մրջիւններ (Ashkhadaser Mrchyoonner - Diligent Ants): teamwork and working together.
Are the books in Western Armenian or Eastern Armenian?
All five Kids Reading Armenian books are available in Western Armenian. Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy) is also available in Eastern Armenian.
What is the difference between Western and Eastern Armenian?
Western and Eastern Armenian are the two standard forms of modern Armenian. They share the same alphabet but differ in pronunciation, some vocabulary and grammar, and spelling.
Eastern Armenian is the official language of the Republic of Armenia and is also spoken by Armenians in Iran and Russia. It uses the reformed spelling introduced in the 20th century. Western Armenian is spoken mainly in the diaspora communities descended from the time of the Ottoman Empire, including in Lebanon, Syria, France and the United States, and keeps the classical spelling.
Eastern Armenian is the official language of the Republic of Armenia and is also spoken by Armenians in Iran and Russia. It uses the reformed spelling introduced in the 20th century. Western Armenian is spoken mainly in the diaspora communities descended from the time of the Ottoman Empire, including in Lebanon, Syria, France and the United States, and keeps the classical spelling.
Should I read Western or Eastern Armenian books to my child?
Choose the dialect your family speaks at home, so your child hears the same words in books and in conversation. If grandparents or relatives speak to your child in Armenian, match their dialect. Either choice helps; children exposed to one dialect can understand much of the other as they grow.
What is a board book?
A board book is a children's book printed on thick, stiff paperboard instead of paper. The pages are hard to tear and easy for small hands to turn, which makes board books the standard format for babies and toddlers.
Reading and learning Armenian
Can I read Kids Reading Armenian books if I don't read Armenian?
Yes. Kids Reading Armenian books include transliterated text, meaning the Armenian words are also written in English letters. Parents and grandparents who understand some Armenian but never learned the alphabet can read the stories aloud.
A full English version of every story is also free on the Resources page, so you always know what you're reading.
A full English version of every story is also free on the Resources page, so you always know what you're reading.
Is there an English translation of each book?
Yes. English translations of all five Kids Reading Armenian stories are free to read on the Resources page, page by page:
•Բարի Ջրարջը (Pari Churarchuh - The Kind Raccoon)
•Մարզասէր Նապիկը (Mahrzaser Nahbeeguh - Healthy & Fit Bunny)
•Անուշ Քուն, Բարի Երազ (Anoush Koon, Pari Yeraz - Sweet Sleep, Good Dream)
•Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy)
•Աշխատասէր Մրջիւններ (Ashkhadaser Mrchyoonner - Diligent Ants)
•Բարի Ջրարջը (Pari Churarchuh - The Kind Raccoon)
•Մարզասէր Նապիկը (Mahrzaser Nahbeeguh - Healthy & Fit Bunny)
•Անուշ Քուն, Բարի Երազ (Anoush Koon, Pari Yeraz - Sweet Sleep, Good Dream)
•Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy)
•Աշխատասէր Մրջիւններ (Ashkhadaser Mrchyoonner - Diligent Ants)
How can I teach my baby Armenian if I'm not fluent?
Start by reading Armenian books aloud every day, even if your pronunciation isn't perfect. Babies learn language from repeated exposure to its sounds, and short daily reading builds familiarity from the first year.
•Choose board books with transliteration so you can read them confidently.
•Use a few Armenian words at home every day, such as greetings, bedtime phrases and names of foods.
•Ask Armenian-speaking relatives to read, sing or video-call in Armenian.
•Look for Armenian Saturday schools, community programs, camps, and playgroups in your area.
•Choose board books with transliteration so you can read them confidently.
•Use a few Armenian words at home every day, such as greetings, bedtime phrases and names of foods.
•Ask Armenian-speaking relatives to read, sing or video-call in Armenian.
•Look for Armenian Saturday schools, community programs, camps, and playgroups in your area.
When should I start reading Armenian books to my child?
You can start reading Armenian books to your child from birth. Kids Reading Armenian was created so that babies become familiar with the look and sound of Armenian from their first year, and board books are made for exactly that age.
Are there free Armenian activities for kids?
Yes. Kids Reading Armenian offers free printable activity sheets featuring characters from Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy) and the bunny books, Անուշ Քուն, Բարի Երազ (Anoush Koon, Pari Yeraz - Sweet Sleep, Good Dream) and Մարզասէր Նապիկը (Mahrzaser Nahbeeguh - Healthy & Fit Bunny). They include masks, puppets, mazes, puzzles, color-by-number sheets and counting activities, and practice counting, cutting, coloring and logic.
Buying and shipping
How much do Kids Reading Armenian books cost?
Single Kids Reading Armenian books cost $15 each. Bundles save money:
Bundles are in Western Armenian.
- 3-Pack Book Bundle: $45
- Quad Squad 4-Pack: $55
- Heenk Pack, all five books: $65
Bundles are in Western Armenian.
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes. Kids Reading Armenian offers free shipping on books to the United States and US territories when you order from kidsreadingarmenian.com.
Shipping to countries outside the continental United States and US territories is possible by paying the additional cost of shipping.
Shipping to countries outside the continental United States and US territories is possible by paying the additional cost of shipping.
Where can I buy Kids Reading Armenian books in stores?
Kids Reading Armenian books are sold at Armenian bookstores and community organizations, including:
- Massachusetts: Armenian Museum of America (Watertown), Hairenik (Watertown), NAASR (Belmont)
- California: Abril Books, Sadarabad Bookstore (Glendale)
- New York: Armenian Apostolic Prelacy (New York City)
- Canada: Hamazkayin Montreal and Hamazkayin Toronto
- Australia: Agateh (Melbourne)
- Online/Events: Aghpur, Armenian Vendor
Can I buy the books outside the United States?
Yes. Outside the United States, Kids Reading Armenian books are available from Hamazkayin in Montreal and Toronto, Agateh in Melbourne, Australia, and online Armenian shops such as Aghpur, Armenian Vendor and HY Legacy. See the Retailers page for details.
You can also buy on kidsreadingarmenian.com and pay for international shipping for home delivery.
You can also buy on kidsreadingarmenian.com and pay for international shipping for home delivery.
Are Kids Reading Armenian books a good gift?
Yes. Kids Reading Armenian books are a popular Armenian gift for baby showers, christenings and baptisms, first birthdays, and holidays. You can add gift wrap ($5, in a red velvet drawstring bag or wrapping paper) and a matching hand-knit plush animal. The Heenk Pack of all five books makes a complete starter library.
About Kids Reading Armenian
Who created Kids Reading Armenian?
Kids Reading Armenian was created by Taline Badrikian, a mother and the author of all five books. She started it after struggling to find Armenian books for her one-year-old daughter that had uplifting stories, kid-friendly illustrations, durable pages and Armenian text.
Her first book, Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy), was funded within 25 hours on Kickstarter in 2016 by 151 backers, reaching 221% of its goal.
Her first book, Ուրախ Խոզուկը (Oorakh Khozooguh - The Happy Piggy), was funded within 25 hours on Kickstarter in 2016 by 151 backers, reaching 221% of its goal.
Why is reading Armenian to young children important?
Reading Armenian to young children helps keep the Armenian language alive in the next generation. Western Armenian in particular is spoken mainly in diaspora communities, where children often grow up speaking another language at school. Early, regular exposure at home gives children a foundation they can build on in Armenian school, within the community, and with family.
Where has Kids Reading Armenian been featured?
Kids Reading Armenian has been featured in The Armenian Weekly (2016, 2019 and 2021), in the print edition of Asbarez (2021) and on Voice of Van radio (2016). See the Press page.
Will there be more Kids Reading Armenian books?
Yes, new books and projects are announced to the Kids Reading Armenian mailing list first. Sign up at the bottom of the homepage, or follow @kidsreadingarmenian on Instagram.