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… Read More

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,… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

When Janessa Blythe discovered through a college leadership course that kids in her Waco, Texas community didn’t have access to books, she decided to act. The junior at Baylor University is launching Waco Up & Read, a program that provides books for kids from low-income communities. “It appalled me… Read More

First Book and Pearson, the world’s learning company, are encouraging America to #ReadUP as part of their campaign dedicated to raising the importance of literacy in the week leading up to Election Day. The campaign will unlock funds for new books to children in need and promote informed… Read More

With a waiting list of more than 400 students, Vanessa Osbourne knew she needed to offer another option for the kids who weren’t going to be able to participate in the pre-kindergarten program. Daniel Dominguez-Carmona shows the actions of a dragonfly to WSFCS Ready Schools Coordinator Eva Phillips… Read More

September is National Attendance Awareness Month, a time when schools and programs across the country emphasize the connection between satisfactory school attendance and academic achievement. Researchers and social scientists are always trying to figure out the secret to academic success for students. Public schools or charter schools? Is standardized… Read More

Remember shopping for school supplies? You combed the store aisle to pick out the perfect binder. You couldn’t wait to crack open that brand new box of crayons. Getting ready for school is a lot more than checking items off of a list. It’s a rite of passage. Fresh… Read More

What could bring together teachers, community organizations and hungry friends of First Book? Answer: Pizza! First Book is proud to partner with Pizza Hut and excited to take part in their new 10-year campaign, Pizza Hut: The Literacy Project. When friends,… Read More