First Book Blog

Stories For All: Todd Parr – It's Okay to be Different

Posted in: Author Voices

Author, illustrator, and macaroni and cheese aficionado Todd Parr, uses humor and bright illustrations to celebrate the differences that make us all unique. Most of Todd’s books are now available on the First Book Marketplace. First Book recently interviewed Todd about his inspiration for writing so many books that make... Read more

Janet Tashjian on Creating Imagination, Inspiration & Illustration with Reluctant Readers

Posted in: Author Voices

Janet Tashjian is a children’s author, an advocate for reluctant readers and strong supporter of First Book. She collaborates with her son Jake Tashjian, who creates the illustrations for her books. One of their joint efforts, “Einstein The Class Hamster” was not only released to retailers, but made available to... Read more

First Book and Mind in The Making's Ellen Galinsky: Reading Time as a Missed Opportunity for Life-Skills Learning

Posted in: Our Partners

The following is a guest blog post by Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute and author of ‘Mind in the Making‘. First Book and Mind in The Making have teamed up to create book lists and tip sheets that help educators and parents teach life skills during... Read more

For First Day of School, Julianne Moore Brings Books to Kids at Harlem Daycare Center

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

We’re huge fans of award-winning actress Julianne Moore at First Book; not only is she supremely talented on stage and screen, she’s also a children’s book author and all -around lovely person. So we were thrilled that she was able to join us yesterday at Round The Clock Nursery in... Read more

5 Inspiring Stories Of Kids Helping Kids

Posted in: Impact Stories

We can all learn something from the selfless acts of children. Check out these five stories of kids helping kids in need get new books. 1. The Best Neighbor Ever. Crestwood Intermediate School in Mantua, Ohio puts others first. The 3rd-5th graders raised over $1300 through a First Book Virtual... Read more

Five Thousand Brand New Books to Kids From Military Families Courtesy of Pi Beta Phi

Posted in: Impact Stories

“I really loved being able to do something hands on for First Book.  Knowing that the backpack I put together at the convention gave each child five new books was extremely rewarding.” – Pi Beta Phi Virginia Gamma Chapter President and senior at the College of William and Mary, Caroline... Read more

Books of Their Own to Take Home: The Guru Krupa Foundation & Summer Reading

Posted in: Impact Stories

When Estrella Elementary opened their doors in 2010, they had barely any books available to students. A Title I school located in an impoverished Los Angeles neighborhood, Estrella can only supply a limited number of books and educational resources to each classroom, and has no books at all to help... Read more

My Brown is Beautiful, See it Please (Guest Post)

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

Many thanks to Jasmine Villaverde-Mickens, Literacy Program Manager in Education, for this post. First graders at CentroNía’s DC Bilingual Public Charter School made self-portraits — with strokes of a brush, they were tasked to find their skin tone by mixing various colors of paint. “Look at my brown,” one student... Read more

Taylor Felice: How I Ran a Half Marathon to Bring Books to Kids in Need

Posted in: Impact Stories

Taylor Felice, a dedicated supporter of First Book, recently ran the Brooklyn Half-Marathon. Not only did she accomplish the goal of running the race but she also accomplished something else – getting books into the hands of kids in need. Taylor aimed to raise $1800 through First Book to provide... Read more

5 Secrets Adults Won't Tell You – Kyle Zimmer's Commencement Speech at Saint Mary's College

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Our intrepid leader, CEO, and co-founder of First Book, Kyle Zimmer, shared some of the wit and wisdom that motivates the First Book team on a daily basis with a crowd of graduates of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame this Saturday. Adults Are Not Really Certain of Anything. “In... Read more