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I had been to this area before, and Books for a Better World had been to this little preschool, El Edén, in the past, but for some reason I did not make it here the previous year. But when I entered this little room full of smiling children, I was greeted by what seemed like an old friend, Florinda. She is the vibrant teacher at this preschool, and last year she also happened to be our guide taking us to several schools when Hugo, the previous director of schools for the region, could not make it.

Door decoration

Florinda is at home with all 14 little ones, 4-5 years old, and just by one look you can tell that the kids lover her as much as she loves them. The school and the children don’t have much, but Florinda makes sure that these kids are learning, and having fun while doing it.

The day I went there was the day after El Dia del Lempira, and national holiday celebrating the native Lempira, a war captain of the Lencas of western Honduras in Central America during the 1530s, when he led resistance to attempts to conquer and incorporate the region into the province of Honduras. Well of course as soon as I got there the kiddos had to stand and sing me the new song they learned to commemorate this day. Under Florinda’s guidance, they continued on to sing other cute songs for me, some about animals where they got to pretend they were elephants and make motions like they had a trunk.

I think we almost doubled their collection of books!

But most importantly, they sat patiently and intently as I read stories from new books to them, their eyes wide in amazement of what they were hearing (or maybe they were just in awe of who was reading the stories, me, a strange looking lady with a strange accent). Either way, they were enchanted. We read counting books with animals, and they were eager to count all of the little bugs on the page. They could even tell me which number was coming next.

Most public preschools in this area are separate entities from the elementary schools, but are in an attached or close by building so they can share some resources, but this one is a little further away, so they don’t get to share books as much. They had a little bookshelf of well read books, and we were very happy to get to add to their selection.

Volunteer Kira and teacher Florinda in the back, with the proud new book owners in the front!

This school was visited by volunteer Kira Gartell in July 2001.

We thought it was high-time for Books to Better World to get ourselves a blog. So here it is! Through the blog, you’ll be able to find information about the libraries you’ve helped to support as well as stay up to date on BBW current events.

Feel free read, explore, and post a comment or two. We’d love hear from you!

The book club had all sorts of interesting items to sell including bicycles, sleds, toys, clothes, books, shoes, household items and more. They made delicious cookies to sell and by the end of their day, they made their goal and were successful in funding a library. The members had such a great time and are thinking about making the yard sale a yearly event.

Thank you Pine Book Club!

The trail is wet and green and the air is thick with vapor. My partners and I come across a series of bulls and the trail is only wide enough for either the bull or us to pass. We decide since we are more agile than the bull on the trail to climb up off the trail and let the bull pass. The plan works and we continue onward with our journey. As the rain showers continue on and off during our hike the trail becomes more draining as it turns to thick deep mud. The raincoats have been pulled over our backpacks to ensure the mission is completed without delivering wet books. How embarrassing would that be?

Up and down the trail goes and we can now see the valley of green jungle with small waterfalls splashing down the side of mountains in far view across from us. The beauty of the jungle can’t be described through words or pictures. The skies are misty and we are now walking through the clouds and the air seems thicker than before. Deeper breathes are needed to keep our legs moving and I can feel the water sliding down my legs to my feet. My toes feel sandy with wet mud in and out through my trekking shoes.

After two hours of hiking the clouds move past the mountain trail and we can finally see what is up ahead. I can see corn stalks high reaching the sky. Beyond in the distant I see boys running through a muddy field kicking a soccer ball. The mud, the rain, and the jungle are not match for the boy’s passion for the game. They kick the ball around to each other while wearing sun faded red to pink baseball caps and rain boots. As we reach the school the boys run to the class room and we are greeted with amazing smiles as if they knew our purpose. We reach for our backpacks and pull the dry children’s books that have journeyed from the states, the wet jungle, and into this classroom of children. The smiles grow bigger and the kids are trying their best to control their excitement. We hand the books out and the kids immediately know what to do with them. They were ferocious readers and tore into the books like a lion feasting on its prey. It only took minutes for some of the children to finish reading the book that had come so far. The children were then asked to describe the book they had just consumed with their mind. As if reading it again they described each of their books almost word for word. Now it was us who were smiling and trying our best to contain our excitement. I’ve never met Kay Robb the founder of Books For A Better World but whatever her feeling was that day when she envisioned the idea of bringing children’s books to poverty stricken schools I think it was that moment we experienced that she had in mind.

Still numb from the experience I had just been a part of we journeyed back through the trail. Racing step for step trying to beat the darkness that would soon fall on the jungle I was still thinking of the children and the teacher. An amazing man who asks for no praise, he walks this trail daily to teach these children we were blessed to meet. Still fresh in my mind was the children disappearing into the jungle to their homes with the new books they had received. I couldn’t help thinking about the experience and how it touched me even for a brief period of my life. The smiles, the little hands holding the books tight against their bodies, the teacher’s passion for his students. These are the memories I will never forget and keep in my soul until the next journey and smile I encounter while delivering books for a better world. Your browser may not support display of this image.

-Dax Ramirez, Volunteer

The Director/principal is fabulous, and strongly encourages reading in all of the classes.  For example, the teachers told us that each class reads for 30 minutes every single day.  This has made a huge difference in the reading levels and accomplishments of the students.  This school is a great example of the combination of donated books AND a dedicated group of teachers who use them to improve instruction and increase literacy.

After a few years of BBW donations and dedicated teachers, the students associate reading with fun and learning.  At El Tunal, the students told us their favorite books, and also knew all about the books because they had read them several times.  They were very excited to receive new books, especially favorites such as Curious George, dinosaurs, and princesses.

As volunteers read stories, students eagerly volunteered to walk around the class showing the books to all of the students.

The older students also volunteered to read a page from the book to the class.  Each volunteer received a Books for a Better World pencil for their efforts.  The volunteers received lots of smiles and even a few hugs.

Annalisa Cardon and Alice Gartell, BBW volunteers, visited this school in July 2011.

La Laguna is in a farming area just about 20 minutes down the road from El Tunal, a very successful school that has been using BBW books for several years.  The director at El Tunal suggested that we start giving books to La Laguna, and it was a very good idea.

The students welcomed us warmly.  We read books to them and with them, depending on the ages.  During a free reading period, several young girls really enjoyed being with volunteer Annalisa.  They read to her, shared a few prize stickers, and especially liked her pretty red hair.

Volunteer Annalisa adored by the children

Volunteer Alice read a silly story to the youngest children in a circle.  We especially loved the smiles of the two boys reading together.  As always, these smiles make all of our efforts worthwhile.

This was the first year for donations to this school, but it certainly won’t be the last.

Annalisa Cardon and Alice Gartell, BBW volunteers, visited this school in July 2011.

Steep road up to the school. Two years ago the road was so bad we had to walk up instead of drive.

When we got there, a few little girls were very excited and wanted to read us stories from last year’s collection. While they were still sounding out the words, we could tell they knew the story and enjoyed the pictures. They were learning little by little how to read the books that they enjoy.

G is for Gato (cat)! We took turns reading aloud from this book. It was especially fun to read because while it was an ABC book, each page was an animal with a little tongue twister rhyme to go with it.

They have reading time every Friday, when they can choose their own books to read by themselves.

The school says "Gracias" for all of their new books!

This school was visited by volunteers Kira and Alice Gartell in July 2011.

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