More photos from Santa Ines Uno

Volunteers Allen and Alice bringing the books.

All the children gathered to hear Alice read a silly book.

Indigenous children paying attention as Allen reads to them. 

Students with new books.

Shy preschool girl.

More photos from Tunal

These boys like the big book.

Excited children as teacher reads a new book. 

Children enchanted with silly dinosaur book. 

Two pretty girls. 

Eager to volunteer. 

Adorable little boys listening intently to the story. 

More photos from La Laguna school

Kids very happy with their new books.

Reading to the younger children, with many raised hands. 

Free reading time with the new books. 

Two boys reading a book together.

They noticed our camera and gave us big smiles. 

Maria Margarita Rodriguez, Santa Elena

Up a very steep hill, this school with grades 1-6 all in one room is run by Yashmina, a very strict but caring teacher of the 26 students at this school.

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.

Escuela Jose Trinidad Cabanas, El Tamagas, Honduras

The 1-6 graders are so happy to be showing off their new books!

A total of 28 students attend this school, from Kindergarten to 6th grade. One room is just for kindergarten, which they have one class in the morning and another in the afternoon. Then the other classroom is for all grades 1-6.

The cutest little kinder! We are making sure that they will grow up to love books.

We got to this school as the kids were having "physical education" - playing soccer on a rough field nearby. But when they saw us coming with the books, PE was immediately over and the kids came running to see what new stories we had for them.

A great display of their books.

This school is one of the hardest ones to reach. The road is long and very bumpy. If it had rained the night before we might not have been able to go, but luckily we had a 4X4 truck and a good local driver who knew how not to get stuck in the mud. The beautiful, lush scenery near the school almost made up for the bad roads.


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

Escuela Niño Perdido, Salama

El Niño Perdido is a school that Books for a Better World has been helping for several years.  It is located about an hour away from Salama, Guatemala.  The road is paved and curvy, but pretty good by Guatemalan standards.  

Each classroom has some books, appropriate for the grade level and almost all donated by BBW.  Mili Reyes, a dedicated teacher and BBW supporter, worked at this school until recently.  She made sure that reading was incorporated as an important part of every grade's curriculum.  Each classroom has a shelf just for books donated by Books for a Better World.

BBW volunteers visited almost every class.  The 5th and 6th graders had fun reading tonguetwisters about wild animals and giving loud applause for those who repeated them most rapidly.  The 3rd and 4th graders enjoyed reading with us.  They enthusiastically volunteered to help us read, and recieved a BBW pencil as a token prize for their efforts.  One book described animals that could jump very high.  We asked which child could jump the highest.  At first, only boys tried jumping.  Then a girl volunteered to jump as high as she could.  I was delighted that she won and she recieved some crayons for her efforts.  We read silly stories to the youngest children, and loved hearing them laugh at the silly antics in the books. 

It is lovely when BBW volunteers return to schools like this one for several years, as we can see the students' excitement at receiving a new box of books. 

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

Escuela Aldea La Laguna, Salamá

Escuela Oficial mixta Aldea La Laguna, La Laguna for short, had its first visit by Books for a Better World volunteers this summer, 2011.  The school had no story books at all, just textbooks and workbooks for the students in grades 1 – 6.  The school director/principal was very pleased to receive the box of books. 

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.