We here at First Book have a confession to make: Trying to make a Top 10 New Books of the Year list is the worst. There are just too many brilliant books. We have an entire section on the First Book Marketplace curated to include our favorite new books of the year,… Read More

Gratitude is a concept that is often hard to grasp – for kids and adults alike! The holiday season is a great time to explore with kids what it means to be thankful and the importance of giving. Here are a few children’s books we recommend that will help facilitate… Read More

It’s up to us all to show kids that in a democracy, citizens can use their voices to make a difference in our communities. Here are a few stories to share with kids to inspire them to get involved with their communities and (when they’re old enough) to vote!… Read More

When we here at First Book first read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, we knew we had to get this title into the hands of the educators and kids we serve. We knew many young readers would see themselves in Starr, the book’s protagonist, and others would use… Read More

It’s the Dog Days of Summer, and the weather’s too hot even for our pets to enjoy time outside! So, we’re staying indoors with our furry friends and their favorite books. We asked the First Book community & staff to show us what their favorite furry companions are… Read More

Authored by Caitlyn Maltese on October 12, 2017. Updated on May 17, 2018. Children’s books are not just for children. As educators and program leaders, children’s and young adult books can be an essential tool to help you learn how to connect with the children you serve. By reading… Read More

May is Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month – a time to celebrate the rich culture and history of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Here at First Book, we celebrate this time the way we celebrate most things – with stories! We often cite Rudine Sims Bishop’s essay that states that literature… Read More

Movements are born from the stories we share. On the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, we remember his legacy and share stories inspired by his amazing life. We remember the movements that changed the world as we know it, and use these histories to continue to create… Read More

Today is International Women’s Day, and we’d like to celebrate by shining a spotlight on some of the talented women who illustrate books for kids and teens. The tweets you see below are from the #womeninillustration conversation on Twitter, in which picture book lovers, authors,… Read More

March is Women’s History Month – a time of year that emphasizes the celebration of women who overcame obstacles to break new ground, change attitudes, and forge a path for others to follow. Here are five of our favorite books that share the stories of our… Read More