First Book Blog

Stories of impact, the latest research, best practices, curated book lists, and more.

First Book President Kyle Zimmer with students in Delaware

Gov. Carney, First Book Announce $50,000 Grant from Highmark Delaware for Re-stock of Basic Needs Closets

Posted in: Press Room

HARRINGTON, Del. (March 4, 2018) — Governor John Carney on Wednesday and First Book President, Co-founder and CEO Kyle Zimmer, visited Lake Forest South Elementary School to announce a $50,000 grant from Highmark Delaware’s BluePrints for the Community fund to support basic needs closets in schools throughout Delaware. The funds... Read more

“It Gives Me a Tremendous Amount of Hope:” Author Hena Khan on Kids, Tolerance, and the Universal Experience of Middle School

Posted in: Author Voices

Middle school anxiety does not discriminate, Amina’s Voice author Hena Khan told First Book. It’s why we all can mirror each other’s experiences in some way, no matter where we’re from—and that gives Khan hope, she said. Read more about Hena, Amina, and the relatability of generous aunties in our... Read more

How To Make Reading Fun and Create Lifelong Readers

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

Brian Smith is on a mission: make reading fun and create lifelong readers. An educator at Newton Conover City Schools in North Carolina, Brian, called upon author Jarrett J. Krosoczka to bring books to life. Brian stocked each fourth-grade classroom in his district with several copies of all ten books... Read more

First Lady Michelle Obama official portrait

Becoming, the Memoir by Michelle Obama, to be Published in the U.S. and Canada on November 13, 2018 by the Crown Publishing Group/Penguin Random House

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

Simultaneous publication in 24 languages worldwide New York, New York (February 25, 2018) – A global publication date of Tuesday, November 13, 2018, has been set for the highly anticipated memoir by Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States of America. The news was announced today by Markus... Read more

Appirio and First Book Bring Backpacks, New Books to Indianapolis Area Kids in Need

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

Indianapolis, USA, February 23, 2018 — More than 2,300 books and 500 backpacks were donated to Indianapolis area kids in need on Feb 22, as a result of a partnership between Appirio’s parent company Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business... Read more

A Very Special Valentine’s Day Message From Kwame Alexander

Posted in: Author Voices, Focus on First Book, For Educators

Award-winning author, poet, and friend of First Book, Kwame Alexander has a special Valentine’s Day message for you! Kwame Alexander is one of our Authors in Action! We love working with illustrators and authors like Kwame to bring new books to kids in need. Click here to learn more... Read more

Partnership Brings Free Multicultural Children’s Books to Libraries

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

Partnership Brings Free Multicultural Children’s Books to Libraries Austin– The Texas Center for the Book working in concert with First Book is bringing a new opportunity to help libraries celebrate Lone Star Día this April. The program is designed to support libraries who serve children in need. “Lone Star Día... Read more

Jackson Shealy, Hunter Dawson, and Jackson Fisher, all fourth graders at Charleston Day School, labeling products for the annual holiday market, inspired by the Lemonade War. This year, all proceeds were donated to First Book and our hurricane relief efforts.

Author Jacqueline Davies on The Lemonade War and #KidsCan

Posted in: Author Voices

The Lemonade War was intended to be a stand-alone book—but five books later, The Lemonade War and its entrepreneurial protagonists have prompted kids nationwide to raise more than $150,000 to end childhood cancers, in addition to many other causes. First Book asked author Jacqueline Davies, who has since founded the... Read more

Fourth graders at Charleston Day School donated the proceeds from their annual holiday market to First Book.

Kids Helping Kids — Because #KidsCan

Posted in: Author Voices

Hurricane Irma missed Charleston, South Carolina by about 200 miles, but it did not leave the historic city untouched. The storm’s outer bands came at Charleston with tidal surges reaching 10 feet high, the likes of which the town hadn’t seen since Hurricane Hugo nearly two decades earlier. It was... Read more

First Book Research & Insights: Anxiety About Immigration Policies, Racism Taking Toll in Classroom

Posted in: First Book Research & Insights, Press Room

“This is a Hard Reality for a 7-year-old” Kids in Need are Increasingly Concerned About Immigration Policies and Racism—and it’s Taking a Toll on Teaching and Learning, According to New First Book Research Students’ stress levels are rising, and educators indicate they need books and resources to address the impact ... Read more