First Book Blog

Using Stories to Make Connections: An Interview with Meg Medina

Posted in: Author Voices

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we talked with Meg Medina, author of Tia Isa Wants a Car, The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind and many other great stories available on the First Book Marketplace. Learn why she became a children’s author, how her family heritage influences her stories and... Read more

Shelves Filled with Books of All Sizes And Colors

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s Guest Blogger is Susan Brunecz, an Instructional Coach at Paul L. Dunbar Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. When our students entered their classes on the first day of school two weeks ago, a roar of excitement erupted! They had just laid eyes on their new classroom libraries. Their shelves were... Read more

Children Should Have Books

Posted in: Impact Stories

Diane Brownstone grew up one block from the nearest public library. She attributes her love of literature to her early proximity to books. “The public library of my youth gave me an addiction to books that has enriched my life.  My wish is to give this experience and pleasure to... Read more

300,000 Books for Kids to Take Home

Posted in: Impact Stories

Rochester, New York was recently ranked one of the poorest cities in the United States. More than half of its children live in poverty. But on an early summer day, the students in the Rochester City School District have a spring in their step as they walk down the hallway... Read more

How First Book & The White House are Transforming Education Today

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

At the heart of First Book’s mission to help children in need read, learn and succeed is the distribution of educational content. Breaking down the barriers to accessing books and other information can lift the kids we serve and their communities out of poverty and into bright futures. When President... Read more

Our Crazy Summer Reading Program Was A Go!

Posted in: Impact Stories, Our Partners

Today’s Guest Blogger is Amy Bartilotti, the Communities in Schools Site Coordinator at Bellwood Elementary School in Chesterfield, VA. Summer is particularly difficult for kids from low-income families. With few books at home and limited access to libraries, they often fall behind. Last year, my colleagues and I decided to... Read more

The Right Book at the Right Time

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s blog post is part of our Stories For All Project series, focused on sharing the latest announcements and impact stories about our effort to put diverse, inclusive books into the hands of kids. Today’s guest blogger is Melissa Spradlin, Executive Director of Book’em in Nashville, TN. Every day I... Read more

These Children Saw Themselves in a Book

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s blog post is part of our Stories For All Project series, focused on sharing the latest announcements and impact stories about our effort to put diverse, inclusive books into the hands of kids. Cathy Gaudio reads aloud to a group of students in Phoenix, Arizona.  It’s a special day... Read more

First Book Joins White House to Bring Thousands of e-Books to Kids in Need

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Our Partners

We know that access to books – in all forms – is critical for children to develop into readers. Now, through a new White House-led initiative, First Book is helping connect children in need across the country with access to thousands of e-books. The initiative, announced today by President Obama,... Read more

Sparking Students’ Interest In Math

Posted in: Impact Stories

When it’s time for a math lesson, Sarah Richardson’s kindergarten class sits in a group, with one hand on their heads, counting on the other hand in front of them.  They’re learning addition using a method called “counting on”. This can be a very tricky skill for some of Sarah’s... Read more