Bookish
Adult Literacy Education
Bookish is a branded education system that reimagines how we teach reading, bolstering low-literacy adults. Prioritizing approachable design, it respects adult learners from all walks of life, especially those left behind by traditional schooling. With ten reading levels and genre-spanning stories from romance to horror, Bookish meets readers where they’re at with no shame and no shortcuts.
Every detail works toward accessibility—clean, legible typography; supportive pacing; meaningful fiction with adult emotional stakes; and seamless transitions between print and digital—structured to make progress feel possible.
Once upon a time...
The adult literacy crisis is one of the world’s most solvable problems, yet it remains largely overlooked. A staggering 48% of Canadians struggle to read complex texts, sitting below minimum reading proficiency. Many don’t even know it. But the impact is everywhere: through limited job opportunities, health risks, lower civic engagement, and the pervasive cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Literacy extends far beyond education—it encircles dignity, agency, and social justice.
From interviews with BC educators, reviews of OECD data, and analysis of existing tools and barriers, Bookish took shape. The result is a system tackling the psychological and practical obstacles adult learners face. By focusing on daily enjoyment and achievable goals, Bookish makes proficient literacy not just a skill, but a lifelong practice.
