First Book Blog

Pizza Hut Teams up With NFL Star Running Back Todd Gurley To Tackle Childhood Literacy

Posted in: Press Room

Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL leverages partnerships with NFL teams and players to inspire young readers & raise funds for nonprofit First Book PLANO, Texas (November 27, 2018) – Nearly 35 years after launching its iconic BOOK IT! program, Pizza Hut is expanding its commitment to literacy through its... Read more

Michelle Obama Surprises Children at Para Los Niños Early Education Center in Skid Row, in Partnership With Penguin Random House and First Book

Posted in: Press Room

Mrs. Obama’s visit is a part of Penguin Random House’s one million book donation in the Obama family’s name LOS ANGELES (November 15, 2018) — Today, while in town for her Becoming book tour, former First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise visit to the Para Los Niños Tina and... Read more

zulily, Penguin Random House, and First Book Host ‘Books For Kids’ Buy-One-Give-One Campaign to Give Children the Gift of Reading

Posted in: Press Room

Partners Celebrate National Family Literacy Month with Select Holiday Purchases Benefiting First Book to Enrich the Lives of Kids in Need SEATTLE (November 1, 2018)–There’s nothing quite like the immersive, imagination-inspiring power of books: who doesn’t love discovering new worlds, swimming with mermaids, or just simply saying good night? Story... Read more

Q&A with Mary Louise Sanchez, author of “The Wind Called My Name”

Posted in: Author Voices

Today we wish a happy “book birthday” to The Wind Called My Name – a middle-grade historical fiction novel about a young Latina girl & her family settling in Wyoming during The Great Depression. We here at First Book are particularly excited to see this title hit bookshelves today! Its author, Mary Louise... Read more

First Book, The NEA Foundation, and Lee & Low Books Further Commitment to Diversity

Posted in: Press Room

First Book, The NEA Foundation, and Lee & Low Books Further Commitment to Increasing Diversity in Young Adult Literature With Award-winning Debut Novel WASHINGTON (October 30, 2018)—The NEA Foundation, Lee & Low Books, and First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise committed to equal access to quality education, are expanding the... Read more

Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion In Your Classroom

Posted in: For Educators

As the U.S. population becomes more and more diverse, the need to embrace the many cultures in our classrooms is more important than ever. When a student’s learning environment respects their history, values, beliefs, and behaviors, students and their families are better positioned to thrive in school. Many educators said... Read more

LIGHTS ALIVE! Why Telling Your Story Matters

Posted in: Author Voices, For Educators

Guest post by author Laura Geringer Bass. There is a scene in my new middle grade novel, The Girl with More than One Heart, that is based on a real life parent conference I had once with my son’s kindergarten teacher. I called the chapter “Lights Alive” which is the... Read more

11 Books to Read If You Loved ‘The Hate U Give’

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

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

First Book and Celebrated Children’s Author Pat Mora Honor Texas Library with Estela and Raúl Mora Award

Posted in: Press Room

Three schools serving students in need receive special recognition for promoting literacy WASHINGTON (October 4, 2018) – Johnson City Library in Johnson City, Texas, will receive the 2018 Estela and Raúl Mora Award, an honor given by award-winning children’s author Pat Mora and her sister, Stella Mora Henry, in partnership... Read more

vineyard vines Kicks Off #WhalesForACause With Simon & Schuster, First Book

Posted in: Press Room

STAMFORD, Conn. (September 27, 2018) — vineyard vines, a lifestyle apparel brand best known for its smiling pink whale logo, announced the debut of their annual Whales for a Cause campaign. In partnership with renowned publisher Simon & Schuster and First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to educational equality, the campaign... Read more