About

In 2023 over 2,000 children received gift books through our Imagination Library Programs. 15,000+ books were mailed to children in Berkeley-Emeryville and Richmond-San Pablo, for keeps.

Ownership of books from birth has been shown, repeatedly, to lead to School Readiness and Literacy, and literacy is key to thriving in this Information Age.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an effective, efficient, proven, and economical literacy boosting program, and it is a Joyful program. We are proud to be an Imagination Library (IL) Partner.

Your support can help us keep our IL programs thriving as we work to put more more books into more and more East Bay children’s hands.

Our Mission

Making books a birthright

in Berkeley and beyond

Our Vision

Books and Joy: we want more

The Berkeley Baby Book Project has quality, age-appropriate books delivered by mail to East Bay children under age 5 living in our service areas every month through our partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Why We Exist

Because Literacy is a civil right. It is necessary to thriving in our Information Age.

An illiterate person is functionally handicapped, unable to fully access and participate in the systems and institutions of society. We want all children to grow up able to fully participate in shaping our society, their futures. We want them to be literate. It is clear that low-income is a leading indicator of lack of book ownership. That’s why our Outreach targets low-income families. We also value the low-barrier to participation in the Imagination Library (IL) Program that makes it easy for any parent or guardian to enroll a child - who qualifies for the Program on their own based only on birthdate and home address.

An IL program is open to all in a given geographic IL Service area, creating potential for happy connections between children and families who own the same great books, have shared favorite titles in their home libraries, allowing connections across socio-economic lines to form, spreading book-joy and strengthening our social fabric.

Research continues to show that ownership of books from birth has a significant, measurable 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.

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.

Notable Supporters

Helen Marcus

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.
Justin Reinhart

Designer
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.
Lois Brubeck

Former The BBBP Board Member
Lois is a long-time advocate for youth services and justice in Alameda County. She was an early and enthusiastic board member, bringing in others who have proven, and remain, crucial to our programs and continued growth. Thank you, Lois!

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.