First Book Blog

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

Black girl wearing a mask holding a book.

Reading Opens the World Campaign Surpasses 500,000

Posted in: Our Partners

Joey Mathis is a First Book Marketing and Communication intern. She is currently an undergrad student at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. First Book has partnered with the American Federation of Teachers for more than a decade. Together we have worked to combat educational inequity by bringing books and educational... Read more

Contestants for Team Bachelor Nation on Celebrity Family Feud

First Book Wins Big on Celebrity Family Feud 

Posted in: Focus on First Book

This guest post was written by Haley Brown, a First Book marketing and Communications Intern. She is currently an undergraduate student at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.   We asked 100 educators where the best place to get books, supplies and free resources for the school year was and…... Read more

educator helping student with laptop - mask covid

Alternative Reading Formats for Educators 

Posted in: For Educators

Joey Mathis is a First Book Marketing and Communication intern. She is currently an undergrad student at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. The First Book Marketplace is home to a large selection of educational resources available at affordable prices to the members of our Network. We strive to address the... Read more

boy reading with hearing aid

First Book and Education Researcher Susan Neuman Launch Groundbreaking Classroom Library Tool as Students Struggle to Access Literacy Rich Environments

Posted in: Press Room

Educator Survey Spotlights Inequity and Financial Hurdles of Building an Engaging and Effective Classroom Library WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 17, 2022) – First Book, the largest online network of educators serving children in need, in partnership with literacy expert and education researcher Susan Neuman, is launching a new tool to assess... Read more

Kids on Laptops in Classroom Supplied By the Creative Learning Connections Initiative

Understanding the Digital Divide

This guest post was written by Haley Brown, a First Book marketing and Communications Intern. She is currently an undergraduate student at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  The “Digital Divide” refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern technology, and those that don’t... Read more

Teachers Holding Books at Fundraising Event

Five Great Ways to Find Funding for Books and More

Posted in: For Educators

This guest post was written by Haley Brown, a First Book marketing and Communications Intern. She is currently an undergraduate student at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  We know that many First Book members often buy books using money from their own pockets. Others have budgets that just... Read more

Teacher reads picture book to students in a classroom.

Mental Health Resources for Educators

Posted in: For Educators

This guest post was written by Joey Mathis, a First Book Marketing and Communication intern. She is currently an undergrad student at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia.  In 2021, the U.S. surgeon general declared a youth mental health crisis. The rates of decline in the youths’ mental wellness have been... Read more

young child hugging parent or teacher

Back to School: How to Use Our Trauma Toolkit 

Posted in: For Educators

This guest post was written by Haley Brown, a First Book marketing and Communications Intern. She is currently an undergraduate student at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  Children can flourish and grow in happy, loving, and safe environments — its why educators work so hard to make classrooms... Read more