First Book Blog

One Fan’s Campaign to Honor Her Favorite Book-Loving Celebrity

Posted in: Impact Stories

There is one woman who inspires Tesa Brand, a community volunteer and aspiring publicist from Fort Wayne, Indiana: Kerry Washington. Washington, the star of ABC’s Scandal, is an education advocate and avid reader. For her birthday last January, Washington started a campaign to provide books for kids in need by raising... Read more

This Girl Wrote One Email to Help Kids in Need

Posted in: Impact Stories

For thirteen year old Elka Longstreth, books have always been within arm’s reach, ready to transport her to another world. In fact, books are her world. Elka has books piling up on her desk and spilling out of the many bookshelves in her home. She’s always been a voracious reader.... Read more

This is a Life He Never Imagined

Posted in: Impact Stories

When Antwon’s kids get a little older, he plans to tell them what he’s been through. A 25-year-old father of three, he’s working hard to give them all a better life. Today, he is employed as a plumber, studying to get his GED and has completed a leadership and empowerment... Read more

First Book’s Community of Educators Tops 275,000, Provides Growing Insights, Market Power to Further Educational Equity

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Press Room

Network Now Reaches 20 Percent of Classrooms, Programs Serving Children in Need WASHINGTON, June 14, 2016 – A second grade teacher in Atlanta, the executive director of a literacy program in Nashville, and a school librarian in Lyman, Wyo. These are just a few of the growing number of educators... Read more

Author Kate DiCamillo Finds Summer Fun at The Local Library

Posted in: Author Voices

This summer, kids can access great books, go on adventures to faraway places and even win prizes – all at their local library. Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux and the recently released Raymie Nightingale, appreciates the importance of reading – especially during the summer.... Read more

770 Pounds of Dreams for His Students

Posted in: Impact Stories

It started with one spelling word. “Beach.” Malik Ray, a first-time second grade teacher in Atlanta, GA, taught his students their new spelling words by projecting a photo and having students guess the word before putting it in their notebooks. On this day, Malik displayed a photo of the sand,... Read more

First Book Marketplace Perks: Promo Codes, Grants & Free Resources

Posted in: For Educators

One of the many perks of being a member of the First Book community is having exclusive access to special funding opportunities to help subsidize the cost of books and resources on the First Book Marketplace! A major part of our mission here at First Book is to make sure... Read more

Platform Features Increased Access to Best Books and Resources

Posted in: Press Room

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2016 – First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise, has launched the next phase of its innovative First Book Marketplace (fbmarketplace.org) and First Book Canada Marketplace (fbmpcanada.org), the award-winning e-commerce sites where educators can access high-quality, new books and learning materials specially-curated to address the needs of children... Read more

First Book CEO Kyle Zimmer Receives Ms. Foundation Award for Igniting Culture Change, Breaking Down Barriers Across Gender and Racial Lines

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Press Room

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2016 – Today the Ms. Foundation for Women will honor Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book, with the 2016 Peggy Charren/Free to Be Award, provided to individuals in media whose work contributes to breaking through gender and racial lines. The award will be presented by... Read more

Books Gave Him A Sense of Home – Even When He Didn’t Have One

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s guess blogger is Melissa Spradlin, Executive Director of Book’em in Nashville, TN. I want to tell you about Ben. From our first meeting, Ben had an extraordinary connection with books. Every time we met to read together, he chose one to keep. He was exceptionally grateful for each one.... Read more