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Press Room
Current news and media resources highlighting our ongoing efforts to ensure educational equity for children in need.
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Who We Are
At First Book, we are building a path out of poverty through educational equity. Our purpose is as bold as it is urgent: To create systemic change. To ensure equal access to quality education. To empower every educator and all the children in need whom they serve.
Media Contact: Ian Kenison
Our Model of Change
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![graphic of First Book's Model of change. The graphic is made up of two different circle sectors. On the outside sector is three areas. One is title 'Providing Affordable Resources,' another is titled '](https://firstbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/First-Book-Model-of-Change-Website-1.png)
First Book Network
Comprises North America’s largest community of individual educators working on the frontlines with children in need at schools and programs across the U.S.
First Book Marketplace
Provides the First Book Network with 24-hour, year-round access to an award-winning repository of affordable and new books, educational resources, and basic necessities curated for kids in need ages 0-18.
First Book Research & Insights
Advances education and poverty research by generating original data that amplifies educators’ voices, drives First Book’s models, and informs content on the First Book Marketplace.
First Book Accelerator
Turns current research and evidence-based strategies from leading experts into actionable tools that are shared with our network — so educators don’t have to wait months or years to use innovative best practices in their classrooms and programs.
Recent Press Releases
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2021 Impact In Review
As First Book enters our 30th year, our nation’s children and educators need our support more than ever. The pandemic has taken an enormous toll on education, compounding existing economic and resource disparities with learning disruptions and mental health challenges. The First Book community has become a powerful force for social justice, supporting educators, removing barriers to learning, and addressing educational inequities.
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In the News
The latest press mentions & by-lined articles.
Diverse Books Matter. Paula Willey’s Top Recommendations for Pre- And Emerging Readers | Early Learning Nation
Diverse Books for All Coalition Giving Access to 145,000 Diverse Books Nationwide | The Washington Post
Innovating for Learning: How Two Innovators Made Access to Books and Education More Inclusive | World Economic Forum
One School District Just Pulled 1,600 Books from Its Shelves—Including the Dictionary | EdWeek
Nonprofit Trends That Will Dominate 2024 | Forbes
Diverse Books for All Coalition Commits to Action | Publishers Weekly
First Book Studies Add Key Data to Book Ban Conversation | School Library Journal
New First Book Research Reveals the Positive Academic Impact of Diverse Books | Unite Against Book Bans
Leading Education Organizations Launch Reading Universe Prototype to Help Teachers Build a Nation of Confident Readers | Cision PR Newswire
This Social Entrepreneur Has Provided 225 Million Free Books to Low-Income Families | World Economic Forum
How We Do It
First Book is a social enterprise, applying proven strategies of the private sector to fuel our work as a non-profit with a growing ecosystem of models that work both individually and collectively to create impact. We have aggregated the First Book Network, North America’s largest group of individual educators (more than 575,000 professionals) serving kids in need. The Network keeps growing by nearly 1,000 new members each month.
Original Research Harnesses the Voice of Educators
We conduct original research that amplifies the voices of our Network members and identifies their needs. We then engage field experts to create tools and resources to address those needs. We curate culturally relevant educational resources that resonate with our membership and the diverse children they serve, and leverage the power of aggregated buying to make these books and resources free or affordable through the First Book Marketplace, our award-winning eCommerce site.
Continuous Innovation to Elevate Impact
We drive constant innovation and collaborate with field-leading organizations to continue elevating our models and bringing the best insights and new practices to the field of education while generating sustainable revenue to continue our work. We form win-win relationships that benefit those we serve, as well as the publishers, suppliers, purposeful corporations, governments, and other key stakeholders committed to improving educational equity.
System-changing Models Addressing the Whole Child
Finally, we address the needs of the whole child, supporting their education, basic needs, and wellness – all of which are essential to educational equity. Through our sophisticated distribution system, we efficiently deliver help where it is needed. The First Book educator-centric integrated design, grounded in rapid-cycle feedback, and powered by innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, provides hope and promise to children living in poverty and the educators who serve them.
Our Work
At First Book, we are committed to addressing the barriers to education faced by children living in poverty. Explore some of the core programs we have developed to ensure education equity for all children.
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Reading Universe
An innovative, digital platform created to support educators by providing evidence-based guidance and tools for teaching students how to read and write.
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The Impact of Book Bans on Educators and Students
First Book Research & Insights study reveals how educators and their students are responding to book bans.
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Diverse Books Impact on Student Reading
First Book Research & Insights study reveals the impact increasing access to diverse books in classroom environments has on student reading and students’ reading scores.
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Grants Deliver on Diverse Books
Grants promoting educational equity by distributing 75,000 new and culturally diverse books to increase kids’ excitement for reading.
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Learning Through Play Resources
Resources created to support educators in teaching students about environmental and societal challenges and empowering them to explore solutions.
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Building Literacy Rich Classrooms
A new report and resource tool to help educators evaluate the quality and equity of their classroom libraries.
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Student Mental Health
Research & Insights study and Accelerator resource to address student mental wellness in classrooms.
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Time for Change
An initiative designed to further educational equity through changemaking, that includes a new resource for educators that suggests practical ways to inspire students to become changemakers for their schools and their communities.