Author Archive: Samantha McGinnis

Our Crazy Summer Reading Program Was A Go!

Posted in: Impact Stories, Our Partners

Today’s Guest Blogger is Amy Bartilotti, the Communities in Schools Site Coordinator at Bellwood Elementary School in Chesterfield, VA. Summer is particularly difficult for kids from low-income families. With few books at home and limited access to libraries, they often fall behind. Last year, my colleagues and I decided to... Read more

The Right Book at the Right Time

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s blog post is part of our Stories For All Project series, focused on sharing the latest announcements and impact stories about our effort to put diverse, inclusive books into the hands of kids. Today’s guest blogger is Melissa Spradlin, Executive Director of Book’em in Nashville, TN. Every day I... Read more

These Children Saw Themselves in a Book

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s blog post is part of our Stories For All Project series, focused on sharing the latest announcements and impact stories about our effort to put diverse, inclusive books into the hands of kids. Cathy Gaudio reads aloud to a group of students in Phoenix, Arizona.  It’s a special day... Read more

Sparking Students’ Interest In Math

Posted in: Impact Stories

When it’s time for a math lesson, Sarah Richardson’s kindergarten class sits in a group, with one hand on their heads, counting on the other hand in front of them.  They’re learning addition using a method called “counting on”. This can be a very tricky skill for some of Sarah’s... Read more

One More Page

Posted in: Impact Stories

Dr. Shirley Johnson, in her words, is an educator to the depths of her soul. Over the last 40 years, she has been a teacher, administrator, union leader, curriculum supervisor and an education advocate.  Most recently, she opened The Resource Room, an afterschool education program for children ages five to... Read more

Books to Start A Dialogue About Disabilities

Posted in: For Educators, Our Bookshelf

Today’s guest blogger is Leslie Anido, a special needs teacher in California. She first connected with First Book as a member of long-time partner Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. She now receives books and resources for the children she serves through First Book.   Books have helped our students look beyond... Read more

Thanks To You, I’m More Motivated Than Ever

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s guest blogger is Andrea Brunk, a physical therapist at the National Children’s Center Early Learning Center in Washington, DC. I work with children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism and other disabilities. The children in my program range from infants to five year olds. Our families do their best... Read more

Investing in My Students

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s guest blogger is Lindsey Roache, Assistant Principal at University Heights Preparatory Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a principal, I know that if my students are going to care about school, they have to know their school cares about them. Sometimes this means our school buys clothes, purchases bus passes,... Read more

First Book & UTR Keep Military Families Connected

Posted in: Impact Stories

“When Rex is deployed there is a very large hole in our family dynamic.  He feels like by not being here and being able to do the things he usually does with the kids, he isn’t as connected to them.” Veronica and Rex Boblett have four children ages four to... Read more

Books for Kids in Ebola-Affected Liberia

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

Since the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, schools across the region have closed — leaving children without access to traditional education opportunities and the moral support teachers provide during times of crisis. So when we received a call from our friends at the International Book Bank and the We Care... Read more