Target demographics: We provide books, book cubbies and family workshops through partners who have established grassroots, proven programs in under-resourced communities in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. We have recently expanded to Marin and Sonoma Counties. Bring Me A Book serves under resourced communities. We focus on providing the highest quality, hardcover children's age and culturally appropriate books to children 0-7 years old. We partner with community-based nonprofits, state funded preschools, Head Start programs, elementary schools, and clinics. Our Family Book Cubby workshop parents and caregivers the importance of reading aloud to children on a daily basis for future success in school and life.
Direct beneficiaries per year: 2,117 children by providing 5,997 books and 461 book cubbies
Geographic areas served: San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties; Marin and Sonoma Counties
Programs: BMABF responds to this critical regional and nationwide need for creating a read aloud culture by offering programs and services that reach children and families of all backgrounds while generating wide distribution of quality children's books -- especially to those who need them most.
Book Bag Library Program--Provides working parents with convenient access to quality books for their children-right in the workplace! The Book Bag Library is a lending library that holds over 200 quality children's books and tapes/cds in pre-assigned canvas bags, displayed in a bookcase and categorized by age and reading level. Employers or donors can purchase/donate the low cost, low maintenance Book Bag Library as a benefit for employees, their families and the community. Currently, Book Bag Libraries are located at organizations such as Sanmina-SCI, Palo Alto Commons, Family Service Agency of San Mateo, OICW, and Canal Community Alliance.
Bookcase Library Program--Matches donors with non-profit organizations to place bookcases filled with quality, age appropriate and culturally diverse books into community organizations such as pre-schools, child care centers, classrooms, health centers, shelters, waiting rooms and community centers. The Bookcase Library holds 30-50 exemplary children's books for ages 0-11. The quality book selection is customized according to the age and cultural background of the children using the library. Each Bookcase Library comes with bookplates in each book and a plaque on the front of each bookcase with recognition to the donor(s). Some recipients of the Bookcase Libraries include organizations such as: Green Oaks Academy, East Palo Alto, CA; El Camino Hospital's Emergency Department, Mountain View, CA; Community Infant Toddler Center, San Mateo, CA; Mission College, Child Development Center, Santa Clara, CA; Womenspace, Eugene, OR.
First Teachers Program--BMABF is currently developing First Teachers, a proposed regional, and ultimately national, literacy training program, that seeks to engage and educate parents, caregivers and pre-school teachers. This program intends to reach the first teachers of children (ages 0-5) convincing them of the importance of reading aloud with young children--supporting emergent literacy skills, school readiness, and family bonding experiences. This program's focus is to supplement the Bookcase Libraries and Book Bag Libraries sites with valuable skills for reading aloud; thus, creating sustainable programs for the workplace and the community.
Master Book Lists--Outstanding Book List's assembled by Kay Goines, a nationally recognized expert on children's literature, are available to assist parents, teachers, school districts and other non-profit organizations with their selection of quality childrens books. BMABF also supports many non-profit organizations in purchasing books and corresponding tapes at significant cost savings.
In addition, BMABF makes substantial book/tape donations to other non-profit organizations and teachers.
Teacher Educational Videos--BMABF developed and produced teacher educational videos and accompanying guides for use in the classroom.
These videos are donated free of charge at conferences and are distributed to teaching credential programs.
Our well-respected Book Buddy program has expanded to include our Family Book Cubby workshop. Families decorate their child’s book cubby, learn about the importance of reading aloud and select new books to keep at home.
