BookTree Information

BookTree evolved from the homegrown practices of founder Kathy Balch, a working mother with a passion for quality children's literature. After countless hours in the library looking for books that would be fun to read, educational, entertaining, age-appropriate, and with subject matter her children were ready for, Kathy felt there must be a better way for busy parents. Over the last 20 years, children's literature has evolved into a huge industry. There are over 500,000 children's books in publication today, with about 10,000 new books published annually, as compared to half of that ten years ago, and only a fraction of that 20 years ago. While browsing the shelves of a library or typical bookstore, one finds slick, gimmicky books, books thrown together quickly to reach a new market segment, books written by celebrity authors, and books designed for promoting a product. Parents now have a more commercialized array of books from which to choose, with broader ranges of quality and variety. The challenge to distinguish the extraordinary from the ordinary is greater than ever. Kathy took on this challenge, first for herself, and then for all the other parents like her trying to do the best for their children while juggling a multitude of tasks. In the spring of 2005, Kathy ran a three-month pilot of BookTree at three preschools in San Francisco. The response to the program was overwhelmingly positive, and all participating families wanted to continue. Kathy had no choice but to abandon her high-tech business career and follow her passion for children's literature! Kathy and her husband Chad Balch, who has an extensive technology and business background and is a yoga instructor, have since worked together to grow BookTree as a company. BookTree is currently available at over 200 participating schools, workplaces, and organizations and stores where the service is available to the general public. Cynthia Ogle