What differences do teachers notice after a visit from Big Brother Mouse? We've asked. Here's what they tell us. (Please note that number usage is very casual in Laos. We are currently measuring the actual change in reading levels, when we provide books to a school. Numbers of the sort given here are likely to be rough estimates.)

Huaiyen Village (photo), Udomxai Province, teacher Linua
* Our school has only 16 students and 1 teacher. After getting books from BBM everyone was so glad. We keep books in the teacher's house because we don't have a library yet. About 5 or 6 students come to read each day, sometimes some other villagers come and read too.

Natak Village, Xayabuli Province, teacher Khamsing
* We already had a library, there were many more books after BBM came. Sometimes people in the village come to use the library. Before we had some books but they were not very appealing for most people. Now more people are interested. When teachers ask questions, now students feel more confident about answering. Now about 90% of students graduate each year from grade 1 and grade 2, before it was just about 60% to 70%.

Nahin Village (photo), Xayabuli Province, teacher Manop
* We have 143 students and 6 teachers. Before your book party, they didn't have anything to read except textbooks. Now, about 60 students read each day. Students like your books very much because they are easy and have good pictures. Students in grade 1 and 2 cannot read but they use the books to learn the alphabet and they copy the pictures. Older students love to read the stories.

Xieng Lom Village, Luang Prabang Province, teacher Jantuma
* Students are more excited about books, after the book party. When we have group activities, such as about history, students often talk about ideas they got from books.

Naalaa Village, Xayabuli Province, teacher Khamphat
* We had books before Big Brother Mouse came, but after the book party we had many more books. They are especially important for grades 1 and 2, because before we did not have good books for them. The students like to use these books to learn easy words, and they draw pictures from the books. In grades 4 and 5, they like the story books. When the teacher asks about the books, students can talk about which characters were good and which were bad.

Nalaeng Luang Village, Xayabuli Province, teacher Sonesawan
* About 70% of the students read every day. In school they learn Lao language. [They speak an ethnic minority language at home and with friends.] Now they know more words because of the books, and they use more words when they write. In grades 1 and 2, they cannot read but they understand what is in the pictures.

Ban Kokwan Village, Luang Prabang Province, teacher Sinuan
* Before Big Brother Mouse came, students in grades 1 and 2 could not read. After the book party, some of those students could read some words aloud. Parents use the easy books to read with their children in grades 1 and 2.

Kaentao Village (photo), Xayabuli Province, school director Khamtan
* We have 193 students and 5 teachers. Each day since the book party I see about 50 to 60 students reading. Two students are novice monks. The novices study very well and are talented, and sometimes they tell stories from the books. [Boys can become novice monks from a very young age.]

Pasuk, Luang Prabang Province, teacher La
* We do not have a library. The books that you gave us, we keep in the office, and one day each week we take them out for students to read. Also, very often I see children reading the books that Big Brother Mouse gave to them.

Nongon Village, Luang Prabang Province, teacher Khamman
* We don't have a library so we keep Big Brother Mouse books in the office, with a teacher taking responsibility. No other group has given us books. We open for children to come read on Tuesdays and Thursdays. About 20-30 students come each time, mostly from grades 3 to 5. Students in grades 1-2 can't read yet so they just look at the pictures. Some villagers read, too. Right now some books are old and torn, if possible we want BBM come help more in the future.

Koulong Village (photo), Udomxai Province, teacher Jansi
* We have 116 students. We do not have a library. About 50 to 60 students read each day, about 80% more than before Big Brother Mouse came. Only students in year 3 and above can read. They read all types of books but especially fairy tales.

Hat Kaw, Luang Prabang Province, teacher Khamla
* We put labels on your books so students can borrow them. We have 72 students, 48 are girls, and I think at least 30 students in grades 3 to 5 read each day. Students in grades 1 and 2 cannot read. I think reading has increased about 70 to 80% since the first time you came here.

Nahai Village, Xayabuli Province, teacher Jansaeng
* Since the book party, many children like to read during their break. Attendance got better because students had books to read. Every day about 85% of students in the school read books. Also, now many more students are writing their own stories.