La mochila de sueños - Backpack of Dreams
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
2004 board member and travel volunteer
2018 travel volunteer
2006-present: travel volunteer, board member
2018-2019 board member and travel volunteer
2007-2014 travel volunteer and board member
Celebrating our founder, Kae Robb