Give a Million

Help us get 1 million books to kids in need this holiday season.

This holiday season, the book you give could be the only gift a child receives. And you know that the gift of a book can lead to a lifelong love of reading—and learning. Will you pass on your love of books to the next generation?

Here are two great reasons to give now

1. Your impact doubles

Our generous friends at Pizza Hut and General Motors believe in the power of reading, just as you do. They each want to echo your impact by matching funds during the campaign. Pizza Hut will double the impact of every dollar you give by 11:59PM on December 31st up to $100,000. GM will also match your donations up to $50,000, with their funding supporting STEM books and resources. We hope you’ll give, knowing that your donation is matched by these two generous First Book partners.

2. Books about “kids who look like me” are in critically short supply

In the United States, 53% of children are of color. Yet, out of 3,450 children’s books published in the U.S. in 2022 and reviewed by the CCBC, 493 have a Black/African American primary or significant secondary character (fiction) or human subject (nonfiction), setting, or topic; 369 feature Asian; 238 feature Latine; 60 feature Indigenous peoples. In low-income communities, where school libraries are often outdated and few books are available to buy, children struggle to relate to the books they’re given to read.

But you can change that! First Book’s intentional focus on diversity gives kids the books they’ll love. Josie, a teacher in Michigan, says, “First Book has the diversity I was totally lacking — not only racial but ethnic and religious and geographic. It’s hard to find these books by yourself all the time.”

For many kids, it will be the first book they have ever owned or the only gift they will receive during the holidays. The sense of self-esteem that comes, and the fact that it also furthers their academic possibilities, make the gift of a book invaluable.

Kyle Zimmer, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of First Book

Give a Million

Every year, First Book works with donors, partners, and organizations to give back to the community and bring books to children in need during the holiday season. For many of the children we serve, the book received during Give a Million will be the first book they’ve ever owned. Please give today, while your impact will double!

Thank You to Our Partners

General Motors logo
Mo & Cher Willems Foundation
the Penguin Random House logo
Pizza Hut Logo
Graphic featuring The Pigeon by Mo Willems with text that says, 'Mo & Cher Willems want to double your gift! Give the joy of reading to TWICE as many kids in underserved communities when your gift is matched by the Mo and Cher Willems Foundation, up to $75,000. DON’T miss your chance to make your gift go twice as far!' with a button that says 'Donate now'.