First Book Blog

Welcome All Kids with Respect & Empathy

Posted in: For Educators

Developing respect and empathy skills requires time, practice, repetition, interaction, and patience with others. In our toolkit, Promoting Respect & Empathy: A Toolkit for Educators of All Grades, we’ve collected activities, tips, book recommendations, and more from First Book educators across the country, who, like you, support kids in under-resourced... Read more

This Educator Didn’t Punish Troublesome Kids. She Gave Them a Closet Full of Stuff.

Posted in: Impact Stories

The following post his blog post was written by Amanda Pell at Upworthy & first published on Upworthy.com in November 2017. This time last year, the top three most misbehaved boys at Equetta Jones’ elementary school were from the same family. As assistant principal, it fell to Jones to figure... Read more

Kids Need Books Of All Kinds

Posted in: Impact Stories

Thanks to Jarrett Lerner, author and illustrator, and supporters like you, thousands of kids in low-income communities across the country are receiving new books and resources from First Book. Lerner is encouraging all to wear their hearts on their sleeves, with a custom designed T-shirt that features the phrase, “Kids... Read more

First Book Resource: Diversity & Inclusion Cultural Calendar

Posted in: For Educators

Kids learn better when they feel safe and supported. At First Book, our focus is on making all kids feel welcome wherever they are. That’s one reason why we created The 2022 – 2023 School Year Calendar Celebrating Culture, Diversity & Inclusion. This free tool was designed to help educators... Read more

“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

First Book STEM Book List

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

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 adult... Read more

Can This Be the K-12 Edtech Marketplace That Finally Succeeds?

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Games and Learning will create an online space where First Book’s community members can find, test, use, and provide feedback on educational games. Read more

How to Host Your Own Backpack Build: 10 Tips and Tricks

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Our Partners

A “backpack build” is a great event to engage any group of volunteers who want to make a difference for children in need. At a backpack build, volunteers fill backpacks with books, school supplies, and other learning essentials. The bags are then delivered to kids who need them most! Hosting... Read more

First Book Launches Final Funding Phase of $4.7 Million OMG Books Awards

Posted in: Press Room

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Educator Resource: The First Book Trauma Toolkit

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights, For Educators

We want all students to be happy, healthy, and prepared to reach their highest potential. These aspirations are most often possible when children have environments that provide safety, support, love, and nurturing. Unfortunately, this is far from reality for almost half of the children in the United States – about... Read more