Category Archive: Focus on First Book

First Book Launches STEMtober to Highlight New Educational STEM Resources

Posted in: Focus on First Book

When you hear the name, “First Book,” STEM resources like coding robots might not be the first (or second) thing you think of. The First Book community of educators know us mostly for our collection of high quality, new, free or low-cost books. But because we aim to provide the... Read more

Can This Be the K-12 Edtech Marketplace That Finally Succeeds?

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Games and Learning will create an online space where First Book’s community members can find, test, use, and provide feedback on educational games. 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

Libby Doggett, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, Joins First Book Board of Directors

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Press Room

Julie Baker Finck of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, British Robinson of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Ralph Smith of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, and Ginger Young of Book Harvest to join First Book Advisory Council WASHINGTON (February 27, 2019)— First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise... Read more

First Book Featured in Forbes’ ’12 Days Of Charitable Giving’

Posted in: Focus on First Book

This piece was originally published in Forbes for the 12 Days of Charitable Giving by Kelly Phillips Erb, a senior contributor, on Dec. 13, 2018. Readers suggested charities, and Phillips Erb posted one a day for 12 days. First Book was featured on day three. First Book (Washington, D.C.) is a nonprofit social... Read more

The Cost of Empty Bookshelves: Kyle Zimmer, First Book President, Co-founder, and CEO

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Empty bookshelves in school libraries, kids without backpacks or lunch or socks, educators shelling out an average of $500 a year to outfit their classrooms–this is why we do what we do at First Book. And this year, we have the opportunity to make sure that every back-to-school start is... Read more

What if Educators Had Everything They Needed? Kyle Zimmer, First Book President, Co-founder, and CEO

Posted in: Focus on First Book

By Kyle Zimmer, president, co-founder, and CEO of First Book. This post first appeared on Medium on June 12, 2018. A Texas elementary school media specialist recently shared a 43-second video that blew me away. In the video, a young boy named Isaiah holds a book by award-winning author Kwame Alexander, and... Read more

Thank You to Our Educators Serving Kids in Need

Posted in: Focus on First Book, For Educators

By Carey M. Palmquist, senior vice president for eCommerce at First Book Imagine waking up every morning as a teacher in a Title I school.   You’re doing this because you want to. I mean…right? You had this incredible notion of giving back, of mentoring, of profoundly changing the lives of... Read more

A Very Special Valentine’s Day Message From Kwame Alexander

Posted in: Author Voices, Focus on First Book, For Educators

Award-winning author, poet, and friend of First Book, Kwame Alexander has a special Valentine’s Day message for you!   Kwame Alexander is one of our Authors in Action! We love working with illustrators and authors like Kwame to bring new books to kids in need. Click here to learn more... Read more

Free Books for Teachers Serving Kids in Need

Posted in: Focus on First Book, For Educators

Let’s say you’re an educator or program leader serving children in need who needs to fill your bookshelves and stock your classroom with free books and resources. You’ve just recently signed up with First Book — now what? Book Distributions In Your Area When funding is available through sponsors and... Read more