Category Archive: For Educators

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today: Building Critical Thinking Skills

Posted in: For Educators, Our Partners

At First Book, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to develop the skills they need to thrive—both today and in the future. That’s why we partnered with General Motors (GM) to create the Critical Thinking Skills & Habits series. These resource guides emphasize critical thinking as one of the... Read more

Reflecting on 2024: How First Book Research & Insights Amplified Educator Voices and Drove Change 

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights, For Educators

As we welcome 2025, we take a moment to reflect on the strides made toward educational equity in 2024. Throughout the year, First Book’s educator community played a pivotal role in shaping key initiatives and expanding access to critical resources for students in need.  Through surveys, focus groups, and ongoing... Read more

How Book Bans Are Impacting Teachers and Students: Insights from First Book Research & Insights

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights, For Educators

Over the last several years, book bans and restrictions have dramatically increased across the United States. Organizations like the American Library Association (ALA) and PEN America have been tracking these trends, but there has been little data on how these efforts to limit access to books are affecting educators and... Read more

From Bus to Bookshelf: How the Free Book Bus and Johnson Elementary Nurture Young Readers 

Posted in: First Book Community Highlight, For Educators, Impact Stories

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

Time for Change Youth Challenge Announced

Posted in: For Educators, Our Partners

First Book and Ashoka are excited to welcome educators back to the Time for Change initiative by kicking off the school year with a BIG announcement. Time for Change is a multi-year initiative in partnership with Ashoka and Audemars Piguet. We’re working together to equip educators and young people with resources to incorporate... Read more

Three Reasons to Join First Book: Insights from Our Network of Educators

Posted in: For Educators

Joey Mathis is a First Book Marketing and Communication intern. She is currently an undergrad student at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. According to a survey conducted by First Book in 2021, nearly 60 percent of educators spent between $100 and $500 out-of-pocket on classroom supplies. With classroom budgets often... Read more

Open eBooks: First Book’s Most Popular Digital Resource Gets an Upgrade 

Posted in: For Educators

First Book is a non-profit social enterprise that works to provide eligible educators with brand-new, high-quality books at affordable prices. As an organization, First Book truly values accessibility and adaptability. Books are an important resource, but we know many educators have limited (and sometimes zero) budget to provide physical books... Read more

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Magic Tree House Collection

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories, Our Partners

This year is the 30th anniversary of Mary Pope Osborne’s beloved Magic Tree House series. The incredibly popular series, published by Penguin Random House, has sold over 143 million books worldwide and includes over one hundred titles. Those titles include the Merlin Missions subseries for advanced readers and the Magic... Read more

Inspire a Love for STEAM with First Book!

Posted in: For Educators

Joey Mathis is a First Book Marketing and Communication intern. She is currently an undergrad student at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. This month and all year long, First Book invites everyone to celebrate STEAM! STEAM highlights the importance of Science, Technology and Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in education and... Read more

Helpful Resources for Educators during Banned Books Week

Posted in: Focus on First Book, For Educators

As we go into Banned Books Week, the news about unprecedented efforts to unjustly ban books from schools and libraries has never felt more urgent. Here at First Book, we have an intentional commitment to providing diverse, honest, and affirming titles on the Marketplace. We know that, consistent with the... Read more