At First Book, we’re proud to shine a light on those making a difference in their communities through reading and education. One of these champions is Theresa, founder of Grandma’s Love, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting childhood hunger and promoting a love for reading in New York City. Addressing Hunger... Read more
At First Book, we believe in the transformative power of stories, and are inspired by those who bring books to the hands of children who need them most. Two such inspiring examples are Sharon, the visionary behind The Free Book Bus, and the dedicated educators at Johnson Elementary. The Free... Read more
This summer, Tamika made First Book history by becoming the 550,000th educator to join the First Book Network. A teacher at a middle school in the New York public school system, Tamika attended a Reading Opens the World book give-away held in the Bronx by the United Federation of Teachers,... Read more
My mother was a high-school biology teacher for 32 years, every week was Teacher Appreciation Week in our house. To say I understood her impact on a child’s life is an understatement, but I hear of her impact often. “Oh, you’re Ms. Awad’s daughter? She was the best teacher I... Read more
First Book regularly works with programs that support the military and their families – and this spring, we launched additional outreach to support veterans. With the COVID-19 restrictions, veterans receiving care in VA hospitals and facilities across the country are experiencing extended stays and limited social interaction opportunities. To help... Read more
Theresa Pearson had a great plan to support her students during the COVID-19 pandemic. She ordered more than 1,500 books from First Book thanks to a COVID-19 funding grant opportunity, and the books were shipped to her school, Chester W. Nimitz Elementary in Alabama. Unfortunately, in just a few short... Read more
In Coatesville, Pennsylvania, First Book Member Tamara Acuna and her fellow colleagues at Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) Head Start are looking to find creative ways to reach the kids 650 families they serve primarily in Chester County, which is mostly very wealthy. At CCIU Head Start, their main role... Read more
Being an educator goes beyond the (virtual) classroom. Our First Book community of educators are tirelessly seeking all possible ways to connect with students and their families on a more personal level to combat the challenges of distance learning and help them realize no one is in this alone. “We’re... Read more
From online lessons to virtual field trips, the Covid-19 outbreak has completely changed how educators are reaching their students, especially in low-income communities. The First Book community of educators are at the forefront, providing kids in need and their families access to basic needs and resources through a wide range... Read more
This blog is a guest post by First Book community educator, April Insley. I believe you read with your head and with your heart. As a library media specialist, I know there’s a book for every one of my students that will help them fall in love with reading. It... Read more
