Category Archive: Press Room

AFT Gives Away 10 Million Books to Help Create a Generation of Joyful, Confident Readers

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Pathbreaking Partnership with First Book Celebrates over a Decade of Putting Books Directly into the Hands of Kids and Families Who Need Them, Sparking Joy, Inspiring Hope and Building Community WASHINGTON (May 11, 2024)—Today, in five synchronized events across the country, the AFT celebrated the unprecedented milestone of giving out... Read more

Diverse Books for All Coalition Giving Access to 145,000 Diverse Books Nationwide

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National consortium aggregates buying power to bolster representation and access to diverse titles for young children WASHINGTON, DC (May 7, 2024) – As educators, students, and families begin to celebrate Children’s Book Week (May 6-12), the Diverse Books for All Coalition is thrilled to announce the purchase and availability of... Read more

First Book Named to The New York Times Communities Fund

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The New York Times Communities Fund continues the legacy of “The Neediest Cases Fund” by supporting local, national and global nonprofits that provide direct support to under-resourced and over-burdened people NEW YORK (Nov. 14, 2023) — Today, The New York Times Communities Fund announced that First Book will be featured... Read more

New First Book Study Tackles National Issue of Banned Books

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More than 1,500 educators report on book bans and the damaging impact they are having on teacher morale and student learning WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 3, 2023) – In a new study released by First Book Research & Insights, educators report that the national conversation around book challenges and bans is... Read more

National Coalition Announces Commitment at Clinton Global Initiative 2023 Meeting to Distribute 600,000 Diverse Children’s Books

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Announcement on collective action comes as First Book study reveals significant academic benefits of diverse books NEW YORK (September 19, 2023) – At the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2023 meeting today, the Diverse Books for All Coalition presented an urgent plan designed to ensure that our increasingly diverse population of... Read more

Diverse Books for All Coalition Partners with MomsRising to Support Parent Engagement

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 9, 2023) – The Diverse Books for All Coalition, a national collaboration of 38 nonprofits working to tackle the lack of affordable, diverse children’s books, is partnering with MomsRising to bring the insights and perspective of parents to help shape the Coalition’s work. As part of that mandate,... Read more

Leading Education Organizations Launch Reading Universe Prototype to Help Teachers Build a Nation of Confident Readers

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WETA, the Barksdale Reading Institute, and First Book join forces to establish a free, innovative professional development platform that provides educators with evidence-based guidance and tools for how to teach reading and writing Washington, D.C. (July 25, 2023) – WETA, the Barksdale Reading Institute, and First Book have launched a... Read more

Kari Kurjiaka Named Project Director for Diverse Books for All Coalition; Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Joins the Coalition

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 25, 2023) – Kari Kurjiaka has been named project director for the national Diverse Books for All Coalition. Most recently, Kurjiaka served as senior manager of literacy & external affairs for Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, a founding member of the coalition. In addition, the Society... Read more

Nonprofits Join Forces to Expedite Access to Diverse and Affordable Children’s Books

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W.K. Kellogg Foundation Supports the Initiative with $1 Million Grant to First Book  WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2022) – Twenty-seven nonprofits and membership organizations from across the U.S. are joining forces to tackle a common challenge that has impeded children’s literacy for decades:  the lack of high-quality, affordable children’s books by... Read more

First Book and Room to Read Come Together to Distribute 30,000 Books in Dari and Pashto to Refugee and Immigrant Afghan Children

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The Collaboration Taps into Strengths of Each Organization to Answer this Critical Need September 8, 2022 (Washington D.C.) — First Book, the largest online network of educators serving children in need, and Room to Read, the global education organization creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, today announced... Read more