First Book Blog

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

four kids reading books on the grass together

Q&A with Marissa Meyer: Celebrating 10 Years of Cinder

Posted in: Author Voices

Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a MA in Publishing from Pace University. In... Read more

children and teacher gathered around a laptop

First Book, an Innovative Leader in Education Equity, Releases Groundbreaking Research Illustrating the Impact of COVID-19 on Emotional Wellness of Students in Underserved Communities

Posted in: Press Room

Nearly One Thousand Educators Participated; Report that over half (53%) of the students they serve struggle with their mental health. WASHINGTON, April 5, 2022—First Book, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring education equity for children living in poverty, today announced the results of a national survey designed to identify emotional... Read more

mom consoling daughter after a temper tantrum

Educator and Parenting Solutions to Deal with Tantrums

Posted in: Our Partners

This post was written in collaboration with the Mind in the Making team. Tantrums are an inevitable and expected part of life with young children that can be very challenging for adults, especially as we deal with the long-term impacts of the pandemic. As children learn how to manage their... Read more

two latina girls looking up at a teacher and discussing a school subject

How Books Shape Our Dialogue Around Diversity & Race

Posted in: Author Voices

In 2021, the Children’s Cooperative Book Center reviewed 3,357 books and found that only 9.3% were written by Black authors and 13.3% featured Black characters. While the statistics are staggering, the problem with the lack of diversity in books extends beyond any bookshelf as the books we read and learn... Read more

time for change, changemaking, audemars piguet ashoka

First Book and Ashoka Join Forces with Swiss Haute Horlogerie Manufacturer Audemars Piguet to Launch Initiative to Inspire Youth as Changemakers

Posted in: Press Room

 Collaboration Will Equip Young People in Low-Income and Historically Excluded Communities with the Opportunities and Tools to Create Change Program Kicks Off with Actionable New Changemaking Resources for Educators January 18, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) – First Book, the largest online community of educators serving kids in poverty, and Ashoka, the... Read more

graphic with text that says: "Double Your Impact to Help Give a Million Books! Help give a million books to kids in low-income communities this holiday season and beyond. The book you send may be the only holiday gift a child gets, and helping a child love books makes a lasting difference. Give by December 31 to double your impact through a Matching Challenge Fund from our generous friends at Pizza Hut — twice as many books with a single gift!" There is a red donation button in the lower right corner. On the left side of the graphic is an image of a young girl holding up a book and smiling.