Author Archive: First Book Staff

Imagine A School Without A Library

Posted in: Impact Stories

Ed. Note: Originally posted in April 2016, the significance of abundant, diverse school libraries still holds relevancy today. Libraries are the gatekeepers to cultural, social, and individual growth and must continue acting as an inviting, welcoming development hub for students and teachers. Today’s guest blog post is by bestselling children’s... Read more

First Book Resource: Diversity & Inclusion Cultural Calendar

Posted in: For Educators

Kids learn better when they feel safe and supported. At First Book, our focus is on making all kids feel welcome wherever they are. That’s one reason why we created The 2022 – 2023 School Year Calendar Celebrating Culture, Diversity & Inclusion. This free tool was designed to help educators... Read more

How to Host Your Own Backpack Build: 10 Tips and Tricks

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Our Partners

A “backpack build” is a great event to engage any group of volunteers who want to make a difference for children in need. At a backpack build, volunteers fill backpacks with books, school supplies, and other learning essentials. The bags are then delivered to kids who need them most! Hosting... Read more

Educator Resource: The First Book Trauma Toolkit

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights, For Educators

We want all students to be happy, healthy, and prepared to reach their highest potential. These aspirations are most often possible when children have environments that provide safety, support, love, and nurturing. Unfortunately, this is far from reality for almost half of the children in the United States – about... Read more

Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion In Your Classroom

Posted in: For Educators

As the U.S. population becomes more and more diverse, the need to embrace the many cultures in our classrooms is more important than ever. When a student’s learning environment respects their history, values, beliefs, and behaviors, students and their families are better positioned to thrive in school. Many educators said... Read more

11 Books to Read If You Loved ‘The Hate U Give’

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

When we here at First Book first read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, we knew we had to get this title into the hands of the educators and kids we serve. We knew many young readers would see themselves in Starr, the book’s protagonist, and others would use... Read more

Three Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Your Students

Posted in: For Educators

Every year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. The celebration emphasizes the histories, traditions, and contributions of our Spanish and Latine ancestors – so that year-round, we can take pride in the diversity of our country, and its resulting strength.  It’s a great time... Read more

5 Creative Ways to Use Books in Spanish

Posted in: For Educators

Guest post by Camila Rios, First Book intern Spanish-language books are a versatile and valuable resource. Use them with Spanish speakers, Spanish learners, bilingual students, and English language learners in any setting where you’re working with kids and families. Use Spanish-Language Books To… Foster Strong Bilingual Skills Research shows that students who read or are... Read more

First Book Marketplace Perks: Promo Codes, Grants & Free Resources

Posted in: For Educators

One of the many perks of being a member of the First Book community is having exclusive access to special funding opportunities to help subsidize the cost of books and resources on the First Book Marketplace! A major part of our mission here at First Book is to make sure... Read more