Author Archive: Marissa Wasseluk

The Stars of the SHOWTIME Drama ‘The Chi’ and Author Jason Reynolds Visit Chicago with First Book

Posted in: Our Partners

We are proud to have taken part in one of the many ways SHOWTIME® gives back to the city that serves as the setting of their hit television show, “The Chi”. Through First Book, SHOWTIME® gifted approximately 10,000 new, contemporary, diverse books to public schools in Chicago’s South Side area.... Read more

Promoting Respect & Empathy: A Toolkit for Educators, by Educators

Posted in: For Educators

Teaching kids empathy and respect prepares them to create a more caring and compassionate world. In the absence of empathy, differences have the potential to breed conflict – especially during a child’s early years, when they are naturally inclined to think only of themselves and their immediate needs. Members of... Read more

Shout Mouse Press: There’s a Story Behind Every Book

Posted in: Our Bookshelf, Our Partners

Today’s blog is a guest post written by Lana Wong, Community Impact & Partnerships Director at Shout Mouse Press If children don’t read about people who look like them … they feel invisible. I feel this is an opportunity for them to see that they’re visible and their voice does... Read more

Q&A with Gaia Cornwall, Author of Jabari Jumps

Posted in: Author Voices

Gaia Cornwall is an illustrator and children’s book author, best known for her book Jabari Jumps. We asked her about her creative process, what it’s like to read her book with children, and her tips on being brave. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Why This Story?... Read more

Q&A with Mary Louise Sanchez, author of “The Wind Called My Name”

Posted in: Author Voices

Today we wish a happy “book birthday” to The Wind Called My Name – a middle-grade historical fiction novel about a young Latina girl & her family settling in Wyoming during The Great Depression. We here at First Book are particularly excited to see this title hit bookshelves today! Its author, Mary Louise... Read more

LIGHTS ALIVE! Why Telling Your Story Matters

Posted in: Author Voices, For Educators

Guest post by author Laura Geringer Bass. There is a scene in my new middle grade novel, The Girl with More than One Heart, that is based on a real life parent conference I had once with my son’s kindergarten teacher. I called the chapter “Lights Alive” which is the... Read more

Telling Our Stories: Author Laura Geringer Bass & the #BeYourOwn Writing Workshop

Posted in: Author Voices, For Educators

Everyone has a story to tell. Often, we need a little encouragement to listen to the voice inside our heads and hearts that tells us, “Be your own!” We are so proud to work with author Laura Geringer Bass to help empower young readers and writers to tell their own... Read more

First Book Response to Charlottesville

Posted in: Focus on First Book

The following is a statement by Kyle Zimmer, President, CEO and Co-founder, First Book: Our nation is reeling from the unrest in Charlottesville and the hateful rhetoric that is reverberating across the country. These groups and their acts of bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, Islamophobia, transphobia, and homophobia are repulsive and counter... Read more

Tools of the Mind: Teaching Children Self-Regulation through Play

Posted in: For Educators

Today’s guest blog post is by Dr. Deborah Leong, Executive Director of Tools of the Mind, and coauthor with Dr. Elena Bodrova of “Tools of the Mind: The Vygotskian Approach to Early Childhood Education”, and Barbara Wilder-Smith, Director of Content Development at Tools of the Mind. Tools of the Mind... Read more

Welcoming Week: Q&A with Author Anne Sibley O’Brien

Posted in: Author Voices

Welcoming Week is a special time of year. Communities across the country will come together to celebrate and raise awareness of immigrants, refugees and new Americans of all kinds. Whether it’s an event at your local art gallery or showing support on social media, the goal is to let anyone... Read more