The success of the ‘Amdani’ book series for Welsh learners – a National Centre for Learning Welsh and Books Council of Wales initiative to create graded books aligned with the Learn Welsh curriculum levels – will be discussed at an event at the Eisteddfod y Garreg Las.
Since the scheme was launched in 2018, more than 50 titles have been published and over 84,000 copies have been sold – an achievement reflecting both the series’ popularity and learners' enthusiasm for reading books in Welsh.
The collection includes different genres, including detective stories, romance, short stories and autobiographies. A number of well-known authors have contributed to the series, including Bethan Gwanas, Manon Steffan Ros, Jon Gower and Siôn Tomos Owen, alongside learners, new Welsh speakers and tutors such as Pegi Talfryn, Lois Arnold and Zoë Pettinger.
The innovative scheme sees a series of books suitable for every learner, whether they’re just beginning their language journey at Entry level (beginners) or are independent speakers starting Advanced-level courses.
The initiative was developed with the support of Cambridge University Press. Initially, a selection of books from the Cambridge Readers series—which supports people learning English—was adapted into Welsh before the focus shifted to commissioning original titles, which now make up the majority of the series.
At 11.00am on Friday, 7 August, senior representatives from the National Centre for Learning Welsh and the Books Council of Wales will discuss the success of the series during a session at the Centre's stand in Maes D at the Eisteddfod.
The session will also highlight new developments, including the publication of separate South and North Walian dialect editions for beginners, as well as adapted editions of mainstream Welsh-language books for Advanced learners. These adaptations will help open the door to reading the complete works of individual Welsh authors.
Helen Prosser, Director of Teaching and Learning at the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said:
Reading is a wonderful way for our learners to practise and enjoy their Welsh. It reinforces what they have learned in class, helps them build their vocabulary, and gives them the confidence to use the language in everyday life. "The success of the series reflects the close and positive collaboration between the National Centre, the Books Council of Wales, publishers and authors. We’re delighted to see so many learners enjoying the wide range of engaging books available, and we look forward to expanding the collection even further over the coming years.
Arwel Jones, Head of Publishing Development at the Books Council of Wales, said:
The ‘Amdani’ series has demonstrated there is strong demand for high-quality Welsh-language books written specifically for learners. The series has provided a platform for both established and emerging authors, enriching the choice available to readers at every level. "We are now building on that success by taking a more strategic approach—ensuring learners at the beginning of their journey have access to books in the dialect most appropriate for them, while adapting more mainstream Welsh-language books for more experienced learners. Our ultimate aim is to introduce learners to the whole wealth of Welsh-language literature.
