kids walking around school, wearing masks to protect them

Press Room

Current news and media resources highlighting our ongoing efforts to ensure educational equity for children in need.

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

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 '

First Book Network

Comprises North America’s largest community of 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.

Media Contact

Ian Kenison | ikenison@firstbook.org

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.

5 Million
Children Served Annually
20,000+
NEW Network Educators in 2021
11 Million
Books & Resources Distributed Last Year

Download Our Media Kit

Download our comprehensive media kit to read, print, or share.

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 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.

close up image of a boy reading a book.

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.

young boy looking through a book

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.

young girl holding a book in each hand

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.

two young boys reading books on city stoop stairs

Grants Deliver on Diverse Books

Grants promoting educational equity by distributing 75,000 new and culturally diverse books to increase kids’ excitement for reading.

group of kids assembling legos

Learning Through Play Resources

Resources created to support educators in teaching students about environmental and societal challenges and empowering them to explore solutions.

young boy holding a Disney book at school

Building Literacy Rich Classrooms

A new report and resource tool to help educators evaluate the quality and equity of their classroom libraries.

young girl reading from a pink book

Student Mental Health

Research & Insights study and Accelerator resource to address student mental wellness in classrooms.

time for change, girl volunteering in a garden

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.

image of a classroom of kids holding up books. In the bottom left corner is text that says, 'March For What Matters. Support diverse books!' Underneath the text is a red button that says, 'I'll March for What Matters'.