Category Archive: Impact Stories

You Have The Power to Change a Child’s Life

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

You have the power to change a child’s life by doing what you love. By hosting First Book campaigns, hundreds of people have provided books and resources to children in need. They’ve asked friend and family to make donations to their campaign instead of purchasing  birthday gifts. Others have thrown... Read more

This is a Life He Never Imagined

Posted in: Impact Stories

When Antwon’s kids get a little older, he plans to tell them what he’s been through. A 25-year-old father of three, he’s working hard to give them all a better life. Today, he is employed as a plumber, studying to get his GED and has completed a leadership and empowerment... Read more

A Simple Bag of Books Can Help Beat Summer Slide

Posted in: Impact Stories

Aliyah had always been a reluctant reader. While other students curled up with their favorite stories during reading time, Aliyah struggled to find books that captured her imagination. That is until Aliyah was introduced to Books for Keeps, a nonprofit based in Athens, Georgia that offers kids the opportunity to... Read more

Author Kate DiCamillo Finds Summer Fun at The Local Library

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

This summer, kids can access great books, go on adventures to faraway places and even win prizes – all at their local library. Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux and the recently released Raymie Nightingale, appreciates the importance of reading – especially during the summer.... Read more

770 Pounds of Dreams for His Students

Posted in: Impact Stories

It started with one spelling word. “Beach.” Malik Ray, a first-time second grade teacher in Atlanta, GA, taught his students their new spelling words by projecting a photo and having students guess the word before putting it in their notebooks. On this day, Malik displayed a photo of the sand,... Read more

Watch What Happens: Kids Pick out Books for Summer Reading

Posted in: Impact Stories

This is the best day I’ve ever had! This is the book I’ve always been looking for!” These are the typical responses heard when Book Harvest comes to a school with their Books on Break program. Book Harvest seeks to address periods of vulnerability in a child’s literacy development by ensuring... Read more

A Thank You Note from Camila

Posted in: Impact Stories, Inside First Book Canada

Every week we receive dozens of thank you notes from schools and programs just like this one. Kids thank us for books they don’t want to put down, books that help them study and succeed, books they wouldn’t otherwise have. The book she received is turning her into an enthusiastic... Read more

Books Gave Him A Sense of Home – Even When He Didn’t Have One

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s guess blogger is Melissa Spradlin, Executive Director of Book’em in Nashville, TN. I want to tell you about Ben. From our first meeting, Ben had an extraordinary connection with books. Every time we met to read together, he chose one to keep. He was exceptionally grateful for each one.... Read more

How Arts & Crafts Created a Space to Talk and Heal

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

Today’s guest blogger is Emily Townsend, an Elementary School Counselor at Lowrie Primary School in Wilsonville, Oregon. Last year I worked daily with a fourth grade student whose father passed away right before Christmas break. He grieved mostly internally, and became increasingly distant, disengaged, and behind in school. After feeling... Read more

Imagine A School Without A Library

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

Today’s guest blog post is by bestselling children’s author Megan McDonald, 2016 Spokesperson for the American Association of School Librarians National School Library Month. Imagine a school without a library. A few years back, I was honored to be a visiting author in elementary schools in the state of Florida.... Read more