First Book Blog

How Trauma Is Impacting Children in the Classroom

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights, For Educators

In a recent survey of educators, we asked our network of educators about the impact of COVID-19 on students. The results show that kids are preoccupied with the pandemic, worried about their friends and family, and concerned about their own health. The survey confirmed what teachers and parents already know—the... Read more

Spring Clean Your Classroom Bookshelf

Posted in: Focus on First Book, For Educators

Daylight saving time officially started this week, which means spring is just around the corner. As you might spring clean your home, now is a great time to spring clean your bookshelf and evaluate if your classroom library celebrates and explores different identities and lived experiences. Spring cleaning your classroom... Read more

Five Questions with Hena Khan

Posted in: Author Voices, Our Bookshelf

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 Khan’s participation and... Read more

First Book Launches #GiveLearningaShot: A New Vaccine Resource

Posted in: For Educators, Press Room

Washington, D.C., March 1, 2021 – First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to educational equity for kids in need, today launched #GiveLearningaShot (available in English and Spanish), a new resource and video series to help educators share trustworthy, expert-based information on the COVID-19 vaccine. The resource refutes a host... Read more

Your Favorite Black History Month Read Alouds

Posted in: For Educators

We asked. You answered! What is your favorite book to read aloud during Black History Month? Looking for books to read aloud for Black History Month? Check out these suggestions from educators in the First Book Community. “I read a page each day from the ‘Little Legends/Leaders‘ series. My students... Read more

Your Favorite Ways to Celebrate Black History Month

Posted in: For Educators

What is your favorite way to celebrate Black History Month? We asked. You answered! Get inspired with the submissions by educators in the First Book community on how they celebrate Black History month in their classrooms. “We are celebrating by posting a different trivia question each day on class Dojo... Read more

52 Books to Celebrate Black History in Your Classroom

Posted in: For Educators, Our Bookshelf

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

Help First Book Distribute Books for National Day of Service

Posted in: Focus on First Book

First Book is honored to participate in the Presidential Inauguration Committee’s National Day of Service on Monday, January 18, 2021. Join us in our celebration of the 46th President with free books, author readings, and more. Fill Out a Form, Give a Free Book Throughout the day, First Book will ask... Read more

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York Puts Diverse Books in Waiting Rooms

Posted in: Impact Stories, Our Partners

Dr. Faye Kokotos, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Montefiore, recently described well-child visits during COVID-19 as an anxiety-ridden experience: “The waiting room is eerily quiet; the children are whisked into an examination room quickly. All the staff are wearing face masks.” In spite of this acknowledgment of the... Read more

Supporting you with tough conversations in the days ahead

Posted in: For Educators

This has been an unprecedented, tumultuous time – and we all watched in horror yesterday at an assault on our democracy. This violence and chaos in our hometown, and particularly on the Capitol of our beloved country, was beyond the pale and will have repercussions beyond our government. We know... Read more