First Book Blog

First Book Dramatically Expands Access to Free Books and Educational Resources for Children in Need, Citing Rapid Growth in Demand

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Press Room

First Book National Book Bank launches new platform granting full-time access to resources as the nonprofit social enterprise reports 40 percent increase in registered network WASHINGTON, March 7, 2017 – With school funding in more than 23 states still below pre-recession levels, and with afterschool and youth programs challenged for... Read more

First Book Adds “Hidden Figures” to Diverse Titles Available to Educators Serving Kids in Need

Posted in: Press Room

Young readers’ edition of story behind real-life heroes now accessible to girls growing up in low-income communities WASHINGTON, March 2, 2017 – “Hidden Figures,” the New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the Oscar-nominated film, is now available at an affordable price to First Book’s network of more than 300,000... Read more

Penguin Random House to Publish Forthcoming Books by Former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama

Posted in: Press Room

NEW YORK CITY, February 28, 2017— Penguin Random House is pleased to announce that it will publish forthcoming books by former President of the United States Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle announced today that the company has acquired world publication rights... Read more

Tools of the Mind: Teaching Children Self-Regulation through Play

Posted in: For Educators

Today’s guest blog post is by Dr. Deborah Leong, Executive Director of Tools of the Mind, and coauthor with Dr. Elena Bodrova of “Tools of the Mind: The Vygotskian Approach to Early Childhood Education”, and Barbara Wilder-Smith, Director of Content Development at Tools of the Mind. Tools of the Mind... Read more

First Book and Every Child a Reader Partner for Children’s Book Week’s First-ever Book Donation

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

NEW YORK CITY, February 3, 2017 —Every Child a Reader, the sponsor of Children’s Book Week, and First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 160 million brand new books to children in need, today announced they will partner to donate books to underserved children as part... Read more

Powerful Partnerships Provide Books & More For Florida Kids

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Our Partners

Like many First Book stories, this one begins with a successful partnership. A partnership that, for many years, has helped First Book raise the bar for kids in need with new, quality books both at school and at home. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and First Book have the... Read more

How One Book Got the 2nd Grade Hooked

Posted in: Impact Stories

At McBee Elementary School in Austin, TX teachers are always looking for ways to help students share ideas and connect. That is especially true for librarian Heather Stephens. She sees hundreds of students from different grade levels, all with various interests, on a daily basis. For the 2nd grade, it... Read more

First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundation Provided More Than 20,000 Books to Kids in Need in 2016

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

WASHINGTON, January 5, 2017 – First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise, distributed 21,338 books and educational resources to kids in need this year in collaboration with the Guru Krupa Foundation, a private foundation that supports the preservation and acquisition of knowledge. First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundation distributed new... Read more

Disney and ABC Invite Families to Read Together During Fifth Annual “Magic of Storytelling” Campaign and Second Annual Disney Reads Day

Posted in: Press Room

Disney to Donate up to One Million Books in 2017 through First Book; More than 57 Million Books Distributed To Date Emma Watson to Narrate “Magic of Storytelling” PSA Presented Across Disney|ABC Television Group’s Multiple Platforms GLENDALE, Calif., January 4, 2017 – Today, Disney and ABC announced it will donate... Read more

Jimmy Fallon and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group to Donate $1,000,000 of Books to First Book This Holiday Season for Kids in Need

Posted in: Press Room

NEW YORK CITY, December 15, 2016 – Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, together with Jimmy Fallon, will make a donation of $1,000,000 worth of new books to First Book, including Fallon’s #1 New York Times bestselling title, YOUR BABY’S FIRST WORD WILL BE DADA. The books donated to First Book by... Read more