First Book Blog - Education News & Stories

Closing the Literacy Gap: How One Mississippi Educator Is Making a Difference

Posted in: First Book Communit Highlight, Impact Stories

In 2024, the average reading score for the nation at grade 4 was 2 points lower compared to 2022 and 5 points lower compared to 2019 (NAEP) . Mississippi, however, turned its reading scores around, now exceeding the national average—despite having the highest rate of poverty in the U.S. Behind that success are educator...

National Library Month: Library Spotlight

First Book and Blue Star Families to Distribute 35,000 Free Books During Big Book Giveaway on April 11 at National University in San Diego

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

The STEAM Book Family Festival is free and open to teachers from Title I schools and the families they serve, and to military families . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON (April 6) – The national nonprofit First Book and Blue Star Families are inviting military families, teachers from San Diego-area Title I schools and...

Talk About a Book Club: New Partnership Between First Book and Little Free Library Will Expand Access to New Books and Boost Book Joy in Under-Resourced Neighborhoods Nationwide

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

Announcement at the national Public Library Association conference celebrates the role of libraries big and small to create community. Pictured (from left to right) Talia Miracle, Program Manager for Indigenous and Impact Library Programs; Kelly Griffin, First Book VP of Nonprofit Partnerships; LaTreena Fegely, Program...

First Book Expands Support for Public Libraries Serving Under-Resourced Communities

Posted in: Press Room

Nonprofit offers deep discounts on new books and free educational resources to help eligible libraries strengthen community outreach programming . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON (March 31) – First Book, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to quality education, is expanding its outreach to public libra...

First Book and The Moth Launch National Storytelling Partnership for Children and Educators in Low-Income Communities

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports educational programming with $250,000 grant . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON (Feb. 12) – First Book , a national nonprofit that expands educational opportunities for children in under-resourced communities, and The Moth , a global leader in the art and craft of personal storytelli...

Exclusive Interview with Author Antwan Eady

Posted in: Author Voices

This blog features an interview with Antwan Eady , author of Nigel on the Moon . Drawing from his own dreams and aspirations, Antwan shares insight into his creative process and the path that led him to write for children. Antwan Eady’s debut picture book, Nigel and the Moon , illustrated by Gracey Zhang , was selected...

First Book Selected as a Beneficiary of The 2025 New York Times Communities Fund Holiday Giving Campaign

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

Through this year’s campaign, The New York Times invites readers to support the power of education; beloved author Mary Pope Osborne kicks off donations to First Book with a $50,000 matching grant FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW YORK (Nov. 25) – For the sixth consecutive year, the national nonprofit First Book has been selec...

First Book and Penguin Random House Celebrate 42 Million Children’s Books Distributed Together Through 25-Year Partnership

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Room

Nov. 17 celebrations include a virtual reading with bestselling author Mary Pope Osborne, and panel discussion with educators on overcoming the decline in reading for pleasure FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 — Leading global trade publisher Penguin Random House and First Book, the national nonprofit that expa...

A Newly Discovered and Never-Before-Seen Manuscript by Dr. Seuss To Be Published by Random House Children’s Books

Posted in: Press Room

© Dr. Seuss Enterprises L.P. 2026. All Rights Reserved. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. , October 28, 2025 — An original manuscript and cover sketch by Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was discovered in the archives of UC San Diego’s Geisel Library, and will be published by Random House Children’s Books , it was annou...