Author Archive: Margurette Awad

Research & Insights: 2021 Highlights & Network Impact

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights

Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 225 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income communities. First Book currently reaches an average of 5 million children every year and supports more than a third of the estimated 1.3 million classrooms and programs serving... Read more

Build the Change: The LEGO Group’s Network Impact

Posted in: Impact Stories, Our Partners

In 2021, the LEGO Group, a partner of First Book, worked to take a new approach to provide resources to our growing network of educators. Instead of creating resources based on corporate goals or assumptions, the LEGO Group worked with First Book to conduct research and create materials that were... Read more

How Books Shape Our Dialogue Around Diversity & Race

Posted in: Author Voices

In 2021, the Children’s Cooperative Book Center reviewed 3,357 books and found that only 9.3% were written by Black authors and 13.3% featured Black characters. While the statistics are staggering, the problem with the lack of diversity in books extends beyond any bookshelf as the books we read and learn... Read more

Meet Cece Bell – First Book Friend, Author & AppleTV Superstar

Posted in: Author Voices

On January 7, the First Book family celebrated the El Deafo premiere on AppleTV, written and illustrated by long-time friend, donor, and author Cece Bell. Truly a wonderful human being and supporter of First Book, Cece and her husband Tom Angleberger, have always been generous when it comes to the... Read more

How StoryBook Treasures Creates Engaged Readers

Posted in: Our Partners

In low-income households, the ratio of books is 1 book per 300 children. To put that number in perspective, in middle-income households, there are approximately 13 books per child. The gap is eye-opening and hard to digest, which is why the partnership between StoryBook Treasures and First Book is so... Read more

Our Favorite Family Engagement Resources

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Our Partners

Throughout the last two years, families have learned first-hand what it takes to keep a child engaged in reading and education. Some of the challenges faced are new, and specific to the current state of affairs; other challenges, while perhaps not new are now compounded in an already tough learning... Read more

We’re Still Here: Books to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

Author Traci Sorrell inspired the theme of this book list to help educators, families, and children celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Her books, We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know and We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, remind us that Native American history is not a finished chapter. The... Read more

Books to Help You Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

September marks an important shift in the year – students are back in the classroom, the season shifts to fall, and we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. September 15 officially marks the first day of our annual celebration with the date also marks the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries.... Read more

Back to School: How to Create a Welcoming Environment

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights, For Educators

At the beginning of a new school year, creating a classroom and a space where students and families feel welcome and comfortable is important. First Book has taken extra care to create resources and space for educators working diligently to help all students feel welcome. The First Book Marketplace is... Read more

Dog Days of Summer: The Ultimutt Book List

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

Today I learned that the dog days of summer actually refer to this time of year when the sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from Earth and part of the constellation Canis Major (The Greater Dog). But for our First Book Title... Read more