Category Archive: Impact Stories

“All Are Welcome” Into a Community of Reading

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

For many students, the start of the school year can be stressful – prompting isolation, shyness, and learning obstacles. The most important part of an educator’s job is making students feel welcome. “I’m always looking for opportunities for our kids to experience that their work and their words do have... Read more

4 Inspirational Librarians to Know This National Library Workers Day

Posted in: Impact Stories

It’s National Library Workers Day, and we’re honoring our library friends! Thank you, library workers, for the important roles you play in our communities. We celebrate you today and every day. Read about four extraordinary library workers who inspire us. Imagine A School Without A Library I want all kids to experience... Read more

‘Love is an Action Word.’ Show Love. Give Books.

Posted in: Impact Stories

“We can tell the kids we love them. We can tell the community that we care. But they look at what we do. I say love is an action word. It’s a verb, and you have to show it.” – Denise Taylor For Denise Taylor, saying you care is not... Read more

Through Access to Bilingual Books, D.C. Students Develop a Love of Reading

Posted in: Impact Stories

Turning the pages of a book from right to left — or left to right, depending on which language you’re reading — is not an innate skill. It’s something we have to learn. But most of us don’t remember that lesson in school, because when you grow up with access... Read more

Newman’s Own Foundation and First Book Bring Nutrition and Healthy Eating Books to Rural Georgia

Posted in: Impact Stories

Thanks to a $15,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman, First Book gave children in rural Georgia more than 3,000 books. The award was made by Newman’s Own Foundation as part of its commitment to address issues of fresh... Read more

How To Make Reading Fun and Create Lifelong Readers

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

Brian Smith is on a mission: make reading fun and create lifelong readers. An educator at Newton Conover City Schools in North Carolina, Brian, called upon author Jarrett J. Krosoczka to bring books to life. Brian stocked each fourth-grade classroom in his district with several copies of all ten books... Read more

Pride, Books, and More with TFA’s Tim’m West

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

With Pride Month already in full-swing, we recently had the chance to speak with Tim’m West, Senior Managing Director of Teach For America’s LGBTQ Community Initiative. We wanted to share his insights on advocating for and supporting LGBTQ youth, both inside and outside of the classroom. Tim’m’s years of experience... Read more

How One Book Got the 2nd Grade Hooked

Posted in: Impact Stories

At McBee Elementary School in Austin, TX teachers are always looking for ways to help students share ideas and connect. That is especially true for librarian Heather Stephens. She sees hundreds of students from different grade levels, all with various interests, on a daily basis. For the 2nd grade, it... Read more

NFL Alumni Charlie Brown Helps First Book, Operation Warm Make Impact in Chicago

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories, Our Partners

In October, First Book teamed up with Operation Warm and the Chicago Housing Authority to bring new books and new coats to kids living in Chicago’s public housing. The event promised to bring together organizations like First Book and individuals who aim to improve the lives of children and give... Read more

How One College Student is Making an Impact in Her Community

Posted in: Impact Stories

When Janessa Blythe discovered through a college leadership course that kids in her Waco, Texas community didn’t have access to books, she decided to act. The junior at Baylor University is launching Waco Up & Read, a program that provides books for kids from low-income communities. “It appalled me that... Read more