First Book Blog

SHOWTIME drama ‘The Chi,’ First Book, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Celebrate Chicago’s South Side with Gift of 10,000 New, Diverse Books to Public Schools

Posted in: Press Room

‘The Chi’ cast members and New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds to address hundreds of area students on April 12 CHICAGO (April 9, 2019) — The acclaimed SHOWTIME® series The Chi will celebrate the community that provides the setting for the timely coming-of-age drama—Chicago’s South Side—with a gift of... Read more

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

Posted in: Press Room

Nonprofit social enterprise to award up to $1.4 million in funding across 12 states and territories for new books and eBooks for kids in need WASHINGTON (April 8, 2019) – First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise focused on equal access to quality education for children in need, today announced the... Read more

12 Children’s Books to Celebrate National Poetry Month

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

It’s April! That means it’s not just springtime—it’s the month we celebrate all things rhythm, verse, and rhyme. It’s National Poetry Month! From clever poetry favorites and nursery rhymes to craftily created illustrations and novels in verse, we have poetry for all ages to inspire even the most reluctant future-poets.... Read more

XPRIZE, Barbara Bush Foundation & Dollar General Literacy Foundation Announce First Book as a Finalist and Milestone Winner in $1M Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition

Posted in: Press Room

Competing Teams To Distribute Four Complimentary Learning Apps to Adult Learners LOS ANGELES (April 1, 2019) – XPRIZE, in partnership with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, today announced finalist teams, including recipients of its milestone prizes, in its $1 million Adult Literacy XPRIZE... Read more

Libby Doggett, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, Joins First Book Board of Directors

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Press Room

Julie Baker Finck of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, British Robinson of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Ralph Smith of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, and Ginger Young of Book Harvest to join First Book Advisory Council WASHINGTON (February 27, 2019)— First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise... Read more

First Book and the New York Life Foundation Partner to Bring Grief Books, Resources to Educators

Posted in: Press Room

First Book receives nearly half a million dollars to support the issue of grief in school communities through the power of reading WASHINGTON (February 27, 2019) — The New York Life Foundation today announced a new two-year partnership with First Book, a leading education nonprofit whose mission is to bring... Read more

What is unconscious bias? And how can educators fight it?

Posted in: For Educators

The truth is, we all have unconscious bias. But what is “unconscious bias”? This is what happens when we allow our own attitudes, feelings, stereotypes, or beliefs impact our judgment or understanding of other people. It’s called “unconscious” because it is not something we do deliberately; rather, it is an involuntary... Read more

First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundation Have Provided More Than 137,000 Books and Essentials—Including Meals—to More Than 52,000 Kids in Need Since 2012

Posted in: Press Room

WASHINGTON (February 14, 2019) – The Guru Krupa Foundation, a private foundation that supports the preservation and acquisition of knowledge, today announced that in collaboration with First Book, they have distributed more than 137,000 books and educational resources to more than approximately 52,000 kids in need in the United States... Read more

dd’s DISCOUNTS and First Book Celebrate Partnership’s 10th Anniversary

Posted in: Our Partners

“dd’s and First Book have made such an amazing impact on our students. Thanks to this program we have been able to get high interest, age-appropriate books into the hands of our students and build home libraries! We are growing a culture of readers!” This year, dd’s DISCOUNTS and First... Read more

First Book and The Rise Up Foundation to Bring $130,000 in New Books to Schools, Programs Devastated by Natural Disasters

Posted in: Press Room

WASHINGTON and ORANGE, Calif. (January 29, 2019)—First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise committed to equal access to quality education, and the Rise Up Foundation, author Alane Adams’ nonprofit that promotes literacy in low-income communities, today announced they are partnering to bring $130,000 in brand-new books to disaster-affected communities in Houston,... Read more