
Five Questions with Hena Khan
Posted In:Author Voices, Our Bookshelf
March 9, 2021 Happy book birthday to Hena Khan’s new book Amina’s Song, published today (March 9, 2021)! This past January, as a part of our activities for National Day of Service, Khan did a live reading of Amina’s Song – a companion book to Amina’s Voice – and through… Read More

38 Books to Celebrate Black History in Your Classroom
Posted In:For Educators, Our Bookshelf
February 4, 2021 In the last few years, educators and avid readers collectively recognized the urgency of reading anti-racist books and exercising self-education. It was apparent, perhaps more so than other years, why Black stories matter, especially in the classroom. While recognizing Black pain and struggle remains an important focus, celebrating Black joy,… Read More

2020 First Book Title Raves
Posted In:Focus on First Book, Our Bookshelf
December 28, 2020 The third annual “First Book Title Raves” list is here! Check out the 15 titles below, all of which were published in 2020 and earned accolades from our network of 500,000 educators who serve children in need. 2020 Picks Our 2020 Title Raves list was curated based on five-star… Read More

Mo-Love for Mo Willems
Posted In:For Educators, Our Bookshelf
May 29, 2020 From heartwarming stories featuring lively, unforgettable characters to virtual events connecting young creators to their wide imagination, all through May, we’ve celebrated everything Author Mo Willems. Educators and parents recognize the genius in Mo’s storytelling — how he introduces social concepts and provides solutions to various situations, all while entertaining… Read More

First Book’s Empowering Women Book List
Posted In:Focus on First Book, For Educators, Our Bookshelf
March 12, 2020 Countless women have fought to make the world a better place in a push for equality for all people – encouraging generations of young people to build upon the contributions of those that have held the door open for them. Here are a few of our favorite inspiring true stories… Read More

Creative Ways to Use Plush Toys in the Classroom
Posted In:Our Bookshelf
November 5, 2019 Plush toys are more than just cute classroom decorations. They are a wonderful tool for creating a space where kids are excited and motivated to learn. First Book educators are using plush toys creatively in their classrooms to spark enthusiasm and excitement about reading and learning. Pete the cat rides… Read More

Building Inclusive Classrooms with YASMIN en Español
Posted In:Author Voices, Our Bookshelf
September 26, 2019 Today’s blog post is written by guest blogger Saadia Faruqi, author of the YASMIN series of early reader titles. Read More

First Book Staff Recommends: Books That Changed Us for the Better
Posted In:Our Bookshelf
September 24, 2019 Every month, First Book's team of children's & young adult literature experts on staff (or as they like to call themselves, THE BOOK NERDS) choose their favorite titles from the Marketplace. September's theme is Books that Changed Us for the Better. Read More

How Educators Use “All Are Welcome” in the Classroom
Posted In:For Educators, Our Bookshelf
September 12, 2019 From arts and craft projects that inspire students to own their uniqueness to conversations of diversity and inclusion, several educators have used All Are Welcome to create opportunities for students to celebrate inclusivity within their community. Read More

First Book STEM Book List
Posted In:Our Bookshelf
July 30, 2019 Children are riddled with curiosity from a young age. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) spark an interest that create a lasting effect and inspire them to dive further into a lifetime of discovery. Here are a few of our favorite books – ranging from board books to young… Read More