La mochila de sueños - Backpack of Dreams

We published a children's book! Buy it HERE

In 2020, as we dealt with the disappointment of not being able to bring books to children in rural areas of Central America, who need them more now then ever, we created something very special, a new book! With the help of many volunteers, we wrote a story book in honor of the 20th anniversary of the founding of Books for a Better World. 

La mochila de sueños - Backpack of Dreams is the true story of how one woman, Kae Robb, was inspired to bring the joy of reading to children. Kae believed that all children should have access to quality books. Over twenty years later, Books for a Better World continues to carry out her vision. Illustrated by Jan McLaughlin, we hope that this story of carrying out a project to help others will inspire kids to see their own dreams as attainable - with the help of passion, dedication, and teamwork.

This book is bilingual in Spanish and English at a 1st/2nd grade reading level, but is appropriate for children of all ages. We used Amazon's Kindle Direct Printing to independently publish the book. Most of the illustrations and text were completed during the summer of 2020, was published on December 5th, 2020. The book is now available as a get one/give one on amazon.com. Each purchase allows us to give another books to a school in need in Central America. 

Written with help from: 

Stephanie Goins, Kae Robb’s daughter 

Alex Robb, Kae Robb's husband 

Jan McLaughlin, illustrations 

Miriam Libman, translation 

Fabio Correa 

Sandra Patricia Cruz

 Kate Eaton

 Carolina Castro Quirós 

and the 2020 board of directors of Books for a Better World:

Kira Gartell, President 

Lisa Schuring, Vice President 

Elise Riker, Secretary 

Jennifer Turner, Treasurer 

Dana Friedeman 

Alice Finn Gartell 

Holly Nipperus 

Dayna Tanner

A special thank you to those who financially helped to make this book possible:

Carl E. Brown

Tracy Denmark & Marc Schwimmer

Heather Frederick

Alice Finn Gartell

Julia Bencomo Lobaco

Sarah Schoenfelder & Bill Harrison

Louise Prestwich Spendlove

Scott & Kari Spendlove

Georgann Wingersonand

Allen & Luis Beach

The Wild Donahues

Kira Gartell

Jeannie Goins

Stephanie & Michael Goins

Paula Kay Goins

The Isaac Family

Linda Layne

The Liebhaber Family

The Maples Family

Tamina McMillan

Heather Pierce

Jennifer Priest

The Schonbok Family

The Schuring Family

Jane Strachan

Sonya Vickers

Andy & Heather Wilson

Celebrating our Past Travel Volunteers

We'd like to celebrate a few of the many volunteers who have given their heart to this organization through the years. 

Click on each name to see photos and more of their story.

Lori Matthews and Shelby Boyle

Lori - 2005-2007 travel volunteer

Shelby 2001-2012 travel volunteer, board member

Courtney Klein

2004 board member and travel volunteer

Alexandra Mikros

2018 travel volunteer

Allen Beach

2006-present: travel volunteer, board member

Chelsie Wilkes

2018-2019 board member and travel volunteer

Wendy Finlayson

2007-2014 travel volunteer and board member

Celebrating our founder, Kae Robb