First Book Blog - Education News & Stories

First Book Partners with the Ralph Lauren Corporation to Share the Love of Literacy

Posted in: Our Partners

Through our partnership with the Ralph Lauren Corporation, First Book has been able to create more opportunities for underserved students to share the love of literacy! Our partners at the Ralph Lauren Corporation recognize the inspiring power of providing books to the kids who need them most. https://twitter.com/Ralph...

Create a Future of Possibilities for Less Than $0.50 cents

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Books are critical, but scarce, for kids in need—and the consequences of that scarcity are significant. A lack of access to books is one of the greatest contributors to educational inequality in the United States, [1] and poor educational outcomes are tied to future poverty, unemployment, and illness. [2] Yet the reali...

We Asked, You Answered: First Book Research & Insights in 2019

Posted in: First Book research & insights, Focus on First Book

Educators drive everything we do here at First Book. From the books and resources on the First Book Marketplace to the teacher tools we create, every step we take is informed by the feedback we gather from the First Book community of educators via First Book Research & Insights. In 2019, we conducted more than 20 surve...

Celebrating Friendiversary with Mo Willems

Posted in: Author Voices

Friendiversary is all about appreciating your friends, old and new, and remembering the good times you've had together. For First Book, one of our oldest and best author friends is Mo Willems, award-winning creator of the Elephant and Piggie children's book series. Like any old friend, when we get together the conversa...

Disney to Celebrate Donation of 75 Millionth Book to First Book During Eighth Annual Magic of Storytelling Campaign

Posted in: Press Room

Stars to Inspire the Next Generation Through Stories Kenneth Branagh to Narrate PSA Presented Across Disney’s Platforms Photo credit: Disney* The eighth annual Magic of Storytelling campaign kicked off yesterday, during which Disney will celebrate its 75 millionth book donation to First Book , a nonprofit that provides...

What's a "Shelfie"? The Most Unselfish of Selfies!

Posted in: Archive

Last week we launched our annual Magic of Storytelling campaign with Disney. This year, we're celebrating Disney's 75 millionth book donation to First Book! Through March 31, 2020, everyone can get in on the fun of sharing the magic of storytelling with the educators & kids we serve! Join our mission to provide books t...

In Their Own Voices - What Makes a Book Work for Young People

Posted in: Our Partners

This blog post was written by guest blogger Erika Duncan, Founder and Director of Herstory Writers Workshop . There is magic in reading a book or listening to a story in a group setting. You don’t have to say whether the same thing once happened to you. If you are in a classroom or a group guidance session and you read...

2nd Annual First Book Title Raves

Posted in: Focus on First Book

We've released our second annual "First Book Title Raves," a comprehensive list of 15 titles published in 2019 that earned recognition from First Book's network of over 475,000 educators who serve kids in need. This list is curated based on five-star educator reviews on the First Book Marketplace that cite the greatest...

The Gift of Reading

Posted in: Archive

Every year during the holidays, First Book donors give gifts in honor of, or in memory of, a special reader in their life. We are lucky enough to be a part of that special holiday gift. To spread the holiday joy, we are sharing a few of the holiday messages sent with donations made this year: "Merry Christmas Mom, Your...

Read with Your Head & Your Heart

Posted in: Impact Stories, First Book Communit Highlight

This blog is a guest post by First Book community educator, April Insley. I believe you read with your head and with your heart. As a library media specialist, I know there's a book for every one of my students that will help them fall in love with reading. It just takes find the right book to spark that connection. Wh...