First Book Blog

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

riley in a toy cart reading go dog go

Dog Days of Summer: The Ultimutt Book List

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

Today I learned that the dog days of summer actually refer to this time of year when the sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from Earth and part of the constellation Canis Major (The Greater Dog). But for our First Book Title... Read more

four children smiling with books in a classroom

How to Add Social and Emotional Learning to Your Classroom

Posted in: For Educators

Guest blog post written by Anya Gizis, First Book Development Intern. Anya is currently studying political economics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. When you help students develop empathy, set goals, and manage their emotions, you’re boosting their overall academic progress. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) creates comfort and assists... Read more

mailbox distribution between volunteer and young boy

The Book Bank and Its Impact

Posted in: For Educators

Morgan Bluma is the Marketing and Communications Intern for First Book. She graduated from American University with a double major in Literature and Journalism.  First Book’s National Book Bank is a great and affordable option for our Network educators serving kids in need, to get a large quantity of brand-new... Read more

happy children with comic books in a classroom

First Book Partners Honored in The Civic 50

Posted in: Our Partners

Guest blog post written by Catherine Doyle, First Book Strategic Alliances Intern. Catherine is currently studying English and Educational Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Each year, Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer services, recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation in The... Read more

mother and two kids eating pizza at home

4 Ways You Can Support First Book

Posted in: Our Partners

Guest blog post written by Emma Chuck, First Book Development Intern. Emma is is currently studying English and linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. When you donate to First Book, your generosity transforms the lives of children in historically underserved communities. With your support, First Book can reach 1... Read more

group of happy children in a playground, smiling and laughing

First Book Launches Black Kids Matter Campaign

Posted in: Press Room

Presenting Sponsor National Grid to Support the Distribution of 10,000 Culturally Relevant Books to Kids in Need in Communities They Serve in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island. TD Bank to Distribute an Additional 7,000 Books in Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. June 15, 2021 (Washington) – First Book,... Read more

student activists holding up a sign that says we need change

Books to Inspire Your Student’s Activism

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

Guest blog post written by Alpha Diallo, First Book eCommerce Operations Intern Students and young people have a long history of activism in this country, pushing for change to define our future culture. As your students learn concepts such as fairness and democracy, invite them to continue the tradition of... Read more

young girl reading in the grass during the summer

Staff Picks to Make Summer Sweeter

Posted in: Our Bookshelf

Curling up with a book in the winter is great, but is there anything better than reading in the sunshine? First Book’s Book Nerds (a.k.a. the Title Selection & Merchandising teams) love tackling their to-be-read shelves during the summer months, so each staff member has selected four books they recommend... 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.