Hi Everybody!

When you read, play and learn with Zak, you help change the world. All profits from the sale of Yak Pack books and merchandise supports Zak’s friends at Room to Read. When you buy the app, you help fund the purchase of three local language books.
Zak the Yak with Books on His Back cover

ZAK THE YAK WITH BOOKS ON HIS BACK

Inspired by a real yak who joined author John Wood on his first trip delivering books in Nepal, this joyful, rhyming story celebrates the notion of just how simple it can be to change the world. Find a problem that inspires you and ask your friends for help. Then, just do it! It’s that much fun and that easy. Get inspired. Read Zak’s story today to kids you care about.

Ages 3-8. Paperback.

(From Amazon)
(From Republic of Tea)
Zak the Yak and His New Friend Quack cover

ZAK THE YAK AND HIS NEW FRIEND QUACK

Nobody can change the world all by themselves, not even Zak the mighty yak. Celebrate friendship, great ideas and changing the world with Zak and his new best friend. Ages 3-8. Paperback.

(From Amazon)

NEED MORE INSPIRATION?

“It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter

“There are good books which are only for adults. There are no good books which are only for children.”

— W.H. Auden

“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”

— Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid

For Kids
For Grown-ups
ZAK’S AN APP! DOWNLOAD IT TODAY.

From the team at Treasure Bound Books comes Zak’s very first app!
Download Zak's app and you fund the creation of 3 local language books for kids who otherwise wouldn't have books in their own language.

Gallery

Check out these pictures of Zak and his friends from all over the world. Send us yours today. It’s easy: Just ask an adult to email us a photograph or drawing of Zak. Make sure they include permission for us to post the picture here on Zak’s gallery page. Then keep checking back!
Email pictures, drawings and posting permission to ZAK@YAKPACK.ORG

About Zak & friends

“You are never too young to make a difference.”

— John Wood, author of the Zak books and founder of Room to Read

Zak the Yak is the creation of John Wood, founder of Room to Read and author of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World and Creating Room to Read (coming Winter 2013 from Penguin). The character Zak was inspired by the real-life yaks that helped John carry the very first books to young students in Bahundanda (BAW-hoon-dawn-duh) a small village in Nepal near the top of a mountain. They were creative, curious, smart kids who didn’t have any books of their own!

The organization John founded, Room to Read, has helped change the lives of millions of kids with the timeless gift of literacy and education. But there are millions more still waiting for books and the chance to go to school! Kids everywhere can help. John challenges you to find the thing that inspires you to take action, ask friends for help and make it happen. It really is that easy. Just ask John.

Friend Zak on Facebook. Follow Zak on Twitter @zakNepal. Join the conversation. Change the world.

John wrote the Zak books to inspire kids to change the world. He is the founder of Room to Read and author of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World and Creating Room to Read. John travels the world talking to kids and grown-ups about books, global literacy, education and making a difference.

Follow John’s worldwide adventures on Twitter @johnwoodRTR.

Our friend Abin (a-bean) Shrestha lives in Nepal where Zak’s adventure takes place. As a cartoonist and artist, Abin has drawn pictures and illustrations for many newspapers, magazines and children’s books. John Wood was honored to work with such a talented artist to bring Zak’s story to life.

The Yak Pack is named in honor of the yaks who carried some of the very first loads of books up a mountain in Nepal to build Room to Read’s first libraries. The Yak Pack, Inc. is a start-up for-profit company donating all profits to Room to Read in support of global literacy and educating kids about philanthropy. Yak Pack Inc. initiatives to date include the publication of two children’s books starring Zak the Yak, the launch of Namaste India, a global event supporting Room to Read with the sale of T-shirts and books and Zak the Yak’s first book app launched in cooperation with Treasure Bound Books.

Fundraising Ideas

IDEAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CAUSE YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT

  • Create a play based on Zak the Yak and charge admissions (write Zak for permission at Zak@yakpack.org and send us pictures). Donate what you raise to Room to Read.
  • Write your own inspirational book about how you would like to change the world. Sell it and donate the money to Room to Read.
  • Launch a book drive. Donate Books
  • Create your own fundraising page.
  • Sell just about anything you make - from lemonade to hand made cards - and donate the money you raise to Room to Read
  • Run a race. Get sponsors. Donate what you earn.
  • Start a read-a-thon. Get sponsors. Donate what you earn.
  • Buy the Zak app for iPhone and iPad.
  • Buy the Zak books at Amazon.

Email us your ideas to raise money for the causes you care about! With your permission, we will include them here to inspire everybody! Together, lets generate 500 ideas to help raise money for the things we care about! Ready. Set. Go!

Bulk Book Orders

BULK BOOK ORDERS ON CONSIGNMENT

Established Room to Read Chapters can order Zak books in bulk to raise money for Room to Read on a consignment basis.

  • Email us and tell us about your project
  • Set your fundraising goal

Minimum order:

50 books = $500.00 for Room to Read (+$35.00 S&H & tax)

= Total Due $535 only when books are sold.

Payable to The Yak Pack by US check or money order.
ZAK THE YAK COSTUME REQUESTS

Make your next fundraising event a huge success!
Organize a costume character visit from Zak or Quack. It's easy!

  1. Download and fill out the Zak/Quack Costume Character Visit Order Form.
  2. Confirm you can store the costume until the next request comes in (The costume fits into a cardboard box about 36 x 36).
  3. Confirm you can fund shipping (anywhere from $50-$75 depending on location).
  4. Send an email describing your event to zakcostume@yakpack.org and copy your Room to Read Chapter contact.
  5. Ensure you have a volunteer to wear the costume.
  6. Yak Pack Media staff will be in touch with additional details and to confirm availability.
  7. After the event, agree to send an event report with pictures, turnout estimates and money raised to zakcostume@yakpack.org.
  8. You are responsible for the event and the costume, not Yak Pack Media or Room to Read.

Download Zak/Quack Costume Character Visit Order Form

Download Event Report

Thank You
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill
The Yak Pack and the on-going adventures of Zak the Yak exist only because of the support, inspiration, good ideas, time and resources donated to the cause by our many friends.
  • The Atlassian Foundation
  • Chris Beer
  • DLA Piper
  • Samantha Berger
  • Mark Henderson
  • Erin Hogan
  • Margaret Milnes
  • Next Jump and the fabulous Code for a Cause team
  • The Republic of Tea
  • Room to Read staff and chapter volunteers the world over
  • Scholastic Inc.
  • Treasure Bound Books (Karen and Chris Robertson)
Contact Zak
Do you have a question for Zak? Ask him today. Keep checking back and Zak will post his answer just as soon as he gets back from helping to build Room to Read’s newest library.

Contact Us
The Yak Pack
NY, NY
USA
10276


Questions@yakpack.org

Bookorders@yakpack.org

Zak@yakpack.org

 
 
 
Flat Zak
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Zak likes exploring the world around him almost as much as he loves books and great stories. But even a yak as curious and creative as Zak can’t go everywhere. Invite him along on your next adventure! Zak’s favorite places are schools, libraries, book stores … and all the wonders of the world.

Step 1:

What you need to make Flat Zak:

Step 2:

Attach the stick to the back of the picture with tape. If you want the picture to be extra sturdy, attach it with tape or glue to a piece of cardboard.

Step 3:

Ta da! Here's Flat Zak. Take him along on your next adventure. Don't forget to email us your pictures: Zak@yakpack.org

Color with Zak
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Print these pages. Even better, create new art work by drawing a picture of Zak meeting your favorite storybook character! Email your creations to Zak@yakpack.org

Parents and Teachers Guide
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Use ZAK THE YAK WITH BOOKS ON HIS BACK and ZAK THE YAK AND HIS NEW FRIEND QUACK to introduce new concepts and cultures to the children in your life. Then, invite kids to begin thinking about how they could change the world, just like Zak the Yak.

  • Invite kids to make a text-to-life connection: How are their lives similar to Manju and Arul’s lives? How are they different?
  • Work a geography lesson into story time: Locate Nepal on a map. How is living near the top of a mountain different from living in town or on a farm?
  • Use the power of predication to model good reading: Before you turn the page, ask kids what they think might happen next. Compare what actually happens with the story they predicted.
  • Work through hard words before you begin: Flip through the pages together on a vocabulary hunt. Explain the meaning of new works before you begin. Then, when you read the story together, difficult new words have meaning!
  • Use Zak to practice phonemic awareness. List words that rhyme with Zak the yak, Arul (ah-ROOL) and Manju (MAHN-joo). Orally segment the word BAW-hoon-don-duh) and practice speaking multisyllabic words
  • Make use of the beautiful illustrations to talk about setting.
  • Split up the story elements and have kids put them in order.
  • Talk about what it would be like to not have books or a library.
  • Ask kids how they would help kids in other places if they could.
Join the conversation!
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Email us your ideas for using the Zak books (or any others) to inspire meaningful conversation (and ultimately, action) about philanthropy and the importance of global literacy with young people. What worked? What didn’t? Inspire us and kids everywhere with great ideas created by the kids you know or work with. With your permission, we will share them here.

Books Zak Loves!
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Here are a few picture books Zak loves. Send us a review of your favorite new book to Zak@yakpack.org

  • Scaredy Squirrel is one quirky squirrel. But he’s mostly a really good friend. Zak loves this hilarious and loving series from Melanie Watt published by the good folks at Kids Can Press.
  • Robert the Rose Horse is just good egg of a book in Zak’s humble opinion.
  • Author Samantha Berger is one of Zak’s funniest and fiercest best friends. He loves her Martha series and all of her creations. Find all of her books listed at www.samanthaberger.com
  • And Tad Hill’s Rocket is Zak’s newest favorite.