About

The research is clear: children who begin life in a home with books will be ready for school at age 5. Simply counting books in an infant’s home gives a more accurate prediction of K-Readiness than any other data.

In 2024 over 22,1000 books were gifted directly to the homes of children in our IL Programs, each with their name on the address label - a detail of great pride and joy to toddlers.

Dolly’s Imagination Library is a proven, efficient, economical & Joyful literacy boosting program. We are an IL Partner.

Donate today to help us put more books into more children’s hands and homes.

Making books a birthright in Berkeley & beyond

The BBBP has quality, age-appropriate books delivered by mail monthly to East Bay children under age 5 in our service areas through our partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Why

Because Literacy is a civil right.

Literacy is necessary for thriving in our Information Age. Without Literacy, a person is functionally handicapped, unable to fully access and participate in and shape the systems, movements,& institutions of society. We want all children to grow up able to fully participate in shaping our society, their futures. We need them to be literate.

Ownership of books from birth is research-proven to predict Kindergarten readiness, regardless of any other factor - including parent income or education level. Imagination Library’s low-barrier to participation — a child qualifies for based only on their age and home address. No other questions are asked to determine eligibility.

Increased Kinder-Readiness rates reduce the need for our public schools to provide expensive “intervention” Programs aimed at filling a Gap we never should have allowed to form.

All Imagination Library Programs are run by local Partners, like us. We define our own Service Areas. Once set, all 0 to 5 year olds in it are eligible to be enrolled. Like all IL Partners, we pay for IL for books mailed to children we enroll along with all other costs of running The BBBP, including Outreach and Fundraising. Our Outreach targets low-income families.

Research continues to show that ownership of books from birth has a powerful impact on children’s cognitive development, Kindergarten readiness and lifelong academic success. By providing well selected, age appropriate, quality books by mail to children we’re cultivating the Joy of book ownership and of reading, democratizing literacy, and building a stronger community right where we live. Join us! Donate today

Board of Directors

  • Seena Hawley

    Executive Director & Secretary

    Seena taught elementary school in San Jose before returning to her hometown of Berkeley in 2007 aiming to teach middle school Language Arts. But, along the way events, research, interests and children she met on the Berkeley Unified school buses she drove changed her path and led her to found The BBBP.

    The BBBP was officially formed in 2012, gained 501(c)(3) status in 2013 and launched its Imagination Library Program in 2015.

  • Sarah Davis

    President & Treasurer

    Raised in Berkeley, Sarah is retired from her position as Project Manager at UC Davis. She and her husband, a retired organic farmer, live in Davis where they raised two sons. Sarah has a long history of civic engagement and work in her communities, in Davis and in Berkeley. She serves on the Board of Camp Unalayee, a nonprofit wilderness summer camp serving youth age 10 to 17.

  • Tom Buoye

    Director

    Tom adopted Berkeley as his hometown when he attended UCB. After studying Engineering, he spent his career at UCB and Autodesk. Since the 1970s he has worked with Camp Unalayee in various capacitities, including serving on their Board of Directors. He is active in Berkeley's bicycling community.

  • Jessica Wheelis

    Board Member

    Jessica is a former Oakland Public Schools K-1 teacher. She is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about promoting early literacy. She was instrumental in getting us off the ground and making our San Pablo Park events fun for everyone for years, pre-Covid. Although she began a new venture during the Pandemic she still advises and supplies us with fun & creative activities for events.

    Jessica holds a Masters of Science in Education as well as a California Teacher's Credential, and for many years was involved in leadership positions with Rosa Parks Elementary school's large and active PTA.

  • Dr. Robin Winokur

    Board Member

    Dr. Winokur is the co-founder and practitioner at Kiwi Pediatrics Berkeley. She came to California from Ohio via Stanford University and Michigan Medical School. In 1985 she and Dr. David Kittams formed a business partnership and founded Kiwi Pediatrics on Alcatraz Ave, later adding an office on San Pablo near the Albany border. Her work practicing and advocating for quality care, access to resources, and healthy communities for all children benefits uncountable families, and wins awards.

  • Jennifer Larsh

    Board Member

    Jennifer “Jenn” Larsh has a long history of advocacy for the health and vigor of her community, especially it’s children. She spent many years working with an after-school learning program at the South Berkeley YMCA, and went on to become Berkeley YMCA’s Membership Services Coordinator. She left the YMCA to pursue professional opportunities and a Master’s Degree. She has been an advisor to and advocate for The BBBP from its infancy.

Board Advisors & constant supporters

  • Fund Development Advisor

    Helen works to develop new sources of funding and maintain existing ones, both individual and institutional. A long-time Berkeley resident, she is retired from a career in commercial bank lending and relationship management. We are fortunate she has chosen to include The BBBP in her ongoing work and support for organizations that benefit our communities.

  • Webmaster, logo-master, LONG time recurring donor.

    Justin has been with The BBBP since before it was named. He designed our logo way back when. Since 2015 he’s been in charge of all things Tech-y and Web-based. We rely on him for advice, planning, and implementation as well as urgent requests for help.

Some of our Funders:

  • Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation

  • Mechanics Bank

  • Chamberlin Education Foundation Richmond, CA

  • In Dulci Jubilo, Inc.

  • The Barrios Trust; Warren Wilson, Founder

  • the James Joseph Ford Foundation

  • Share the Spirit East Bay

  • An Anonymous California Family Foundation

  • EVCharge4U Berkeley

  • A Family Fund・San Francisco Foundation

  • The BBBP Board of Directors

  • Berkeley Police Association

  • Lifelong Medical Heart 2 Heart Program

  • The Friendship Fund

In Memoriam

Miriam Hawley

Founding board member, first president and generous supporter

Miriam (“Mim”)’s civic engagement in and around Berkeley is remembered by many. Her insightful work created impacts that continue to positively affect countless East Bay transit riders and young residents, including children receiving books thru The BBBP. Without her support, The BBBP would not have come to be. She is sorely missed.

She was a remarkable and wise woman who knew when to nudge and nurture, when to firmly demand, and importantly, how to create budgets aimed at nurturing a better future for all of us.

She was known in Berkeley City politics for being a consensus builder, for bridging divides between beings with seemingly intractable differences. Even intergalactic ones, apparently. There is a rememberance in Berkeleyside.