First Book Blog

Students as Agents of Lasting Change: The Citizen Power Project

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically…Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. – Martin Luther King Jr., “The Purpose of Education”, 1947 Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and even now, all across the country,... Read more

How One Book Got the 2nd Grade Hooked

Posted in: Impact Stories

At McBee Elementary School in Austin, TX teachers are always looking for ways to help students share ideas and connect. That is especially true for librarian Heather Stephens. She sees hundreds of students from different grade levels, all with various interests, on a daily basis. For the 2nd grade, it... Read more

First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundation Provided More Than 20,000 Books to Kids in Need in 2016

Posted in: Press Releases

WASHINGTON, January 5, 2017 – First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise, distributed 21,338 books and educational resources to kids in need this year in collaboration with the Guru Krupa Foundation, a private foundation that supports the preservation and acquisition of knowledge. First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundation distributed new... Read more

Disney and ABC Invite Families to Read Together During Fifth Annual “Magic of Storytelling” Campaign and Second Annual Disney Reads Day

Posted in: Press Releases

Disney to Donate up to One Million Books in 2017 through First Book; More than 57 Million Books Distributed To Date Emma Watson to Narrate “Magic of Storytelling” PSA Presented Across Disney|ABC Television Group’s Multiple Platforms GLENDALE, Calif., January 4, 2017 – Today, Disney and ABC announced it will donate... Read more

Changing Communities with Books: The Citizen Power Project

Posted in: Impact Stories

In November, First Book and its partners the American Federation of Teachers and the Albert Shanker Institute presented the Citizen Power Project; a challenge to educators nationwide to identify, plan, and implement a civic engagement project important to their students, school or community. Fifteen projects received grants to help turn... Read more

Our Five Favorite New Books of 2016

Posted in: For Educators

As the year comes to a close, we here at First Book like to reflect on the things we did, the people we met, and (most of all) the books we read. Here are a few of our favorite children’s books that were published in 2016!   Pre-K –K (Ages... Read more

Jimmy Fallon and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group to Donate $1,000,000 of Books to First Book This Holiday Season for Kids in Need

Posted in: Press Releases

NEW YORK CITY, December 15, 2016 – Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, together with Jimmy Fallon, will make a donation of $1,000,000 worth of new books to First Book, including Fallon’s #1 New York Times bestselling title, YOUR BABY’S FIRST WORD WILL BE DADA. The books donated to First Book by... Read more

NFL Alumni Charlie Brown Helps First Book, Operation Warm Make Impact in Chicago

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories, Inside First Book Canada

In October, First Book teamed up with Operation Warm and the Chicago Housing Authority to bring new books and new coats to kids living in Chicago’s public housing. The event promised to bring together organizations like First Book and individuals who aim to improve the lives of children and give... Read more

Delaware Teams up With First Book to Bring 40,000 Free Books to Educators and Families in Need

Posted in: Press Releases

Educators and students are invited to pick out free books at kickoff event on December 17 WILMINGTON, Del., December 13, 2016 – The State of Delaware is partnering with nonprofit social enterprise First Book to enrich the lives of thousands of children in need across the state by putting free... Read more

5 Digital Education Tools for Educators Serving Kids in Need

Posted in: For Educators

Many members of our community of educators have told us that digital learning is crucial in their programs and classrooms. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with companies and organizations focused on creating and curating quality digital content to bring interactive reading, math games, critical thinking, writing practice and more... Read more