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Our Mission: Transforming Lives Through Equal Access to Education

Without needed educational resources, kids start school behind and often never catch up. With your help, we can change that.

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First Book Removes Barriers to Learning

From books to backpacks and technology to toothpaste, First Book delivers critical tools for learning through two nonprofit ecommerce sites: the First Book Marketplace and First Book National Book Bank.

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Delivering Systemic Change

We work with hundreds of thousands of educators to identify unmet needs. We aggregate this demand via a sustainable market-driven model that provides access to critical books and education resources at national scale.

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Make a Lasting Impact

Education Is Not Equal

Our Marketplace

Why First Book is Different

The Need

A record number of kids are growing up in low-income households, and they now account for more than half of U.S. public school students.

Public education and programs are deeply underfunded, and books are a luxury many families cannot afford. Without adequate resources, children cannot learn. The impact of this cycle is staggering.

Video generously funded by C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Understand the Need

Our Impact

Every year we reach more than 5 million children and the educators who serve them, providing essential educational resources.

We have distributed more than 175 million books and resources in 30 countries. We currently reach an average of 5 million children every year, and serve more than one out of every four classrooms and programs in need.

Video generously funded by C&S Wholesale Grocers.

See What You Can Do

Latest from First Book

Find out what makes First Book a leading voice in the movement for educational equality.

Focus on First Book

The Cost of Empty Bookshelves: Kyle Zimmer, First Book President, Co-founder and CEO

First Book Insights

“They are Tired, Distracted, and Worried:” Social Issues and Kids in Need

Focus on First Book

Building Mirrors: Black Panther and the Importance of Authentic Voices

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The First Book Network of Educators

First Book’s more than 375,000 members are a community of activists who are transforming the lives of children in need every day.

First Book members work in classrooms, afterschool and summer or early childhood programs, shelters and health clinics, libraries, community programs, military support programs and other settings.

Our network of educators provide feedback that helps identify and remove the barriers to education for the kids they serve.

First Book believes that educators must have access to all the tools they need to help these children succeed. We support our members with books, educational supplies, and other essentials, as well as access to funding.

Join the Network

First Book listens to its members and responds to their needs. Members share how they use First Book resources and what they need to support the children they serve.

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First Book Insights: Targeted Impact

First Book has launched First Book Insights, a knowledge bank of proprietary data that aggregates and amplifies the voices of those serving children in need.

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First Book Marketplace

Eligible educators can purchase high-quality, relevant books and educational resources for kids 0-18 at affordable prices. The inventory is curated based on the needs of our members. When you buy from...

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First Book National Book Bank

Serve more kids with books in bulk cartons, donated by our publishing partners. The First Book National Book Bank is perfect for those with limited budget and high quantity needs. Books are free to ed...

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Stories for All Project™

The Stories for All Project™ is First Book's market-driven solution to increase diverse voices in children’s books. In a survey, 90% of educators agreed that the children they serve would be more enth...

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First Book Disaster Relief

Since Hurricane Katrina, First Book has distributed more than 5 million books to families affected by natural and man-made disasters. First Book also supplies essential items like first aid kits and d...

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Meet Our Members

Featured Partners

First Book’s dedicated partners deliver possibilities to educators and kids in need and bring us closer to realizing educational equity for all kids.

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