First Book & The American Federation of Teachers
600,000+ Educators Unlocking the Power of Books for Students
> Our Partners > American Federation of Teachers 
Since 2012, First Book and the AFT have partnered to bring high-quality books and resources to educators, families and children across the country. From small classroom book giveaways to large-scale reading festivals distributing over 30,000 books in a day, First Book and AFT are making books more accessible to all while equipping educators with the tools to enrich the lives of children in low-income communities and support AFT members who serve them. By combining First Book’s purchasing power with AFT’s strong network of educators, healthcare professionals and public employees, we’re ensuring that more students, families and communities have the resources they need to thrive.
Our Impact
AFT Members
AFT members in Title I or Title I-eligible schools can register as First Book members for free. When you do, you’ll receive access to:
- Deeply discounted books and educational materials for ages 0-18 through the First Book Marketplace
- Exclusive grants and promo codes from our partners
- Free, ready-to-use resources developed by educators and experts on social-emotional learning, mental health, racial equity, and more
- Opportunities to shape future programs and partnerships through surveys and focus groups
- Priority updates on local Reading Opens the World events and AFT-exclusive funding opportunities
Local Or State Union Leaders
Local or state union leaders can partner directly with First Book to:
- Purchase books in bulk from the First Book Marketplace
- Provide gift certificates for educators in your network
- Fund special book distributions in your communities
- Survey the First Book Network to inform resource development or advocacy efforts
Reading Opens the World
Understanding the current state of classroom libraries
In 2021, AFT launched the Reading Opens the World Program campaign to spread the joy of reading and strengthening connections among families, educators, and communities by expanding access to books, literacy tips and tools and educational resources. Through this collaboration, First Book has distributed over more than 2.5 million books, contributing to a total of over nearly 11 million books throughout the lifetime of our partnership.
