
For Educators
Encouraging Literacy & Leadership with Games
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Holton, president of Classroom, Inc. – a nonprofit that develops literacy and leadership skills for middle school students in high-poverty communities. The organization provides support for educators and works to put students in charge of their learning. They create programs,… Read More
Press Releases
First Book and NEA Foundation Commit to Supporting Social and Emotional Learning for Kids in Need Through Increased Access to Diverse Books
Diverse books can catalyze empathy, understanding—a teacher-identified top-priority WASHINGTON, April 17, 2017 – First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise, and the NEA Foundation, are joining in a two-year partnership to respond to a teacher-identified top education priority—the acute need to cultivate social and emotional wellness, by expanding the… Read More

Press Releases
Newbery Medal-winning Author Kwame Alexander Joins National Geographic and First Book to Support Kids in Need
Educator-focused event features keynote address from Alexander and reading from his book, Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures, a National Geographic Kids publication WASHINGTON, April 3, 2017 – Tomorrow night, Newbery Medal-winning author Kwame Alexander will address hundreds of educators and professionals supporting children… Read More

For Educators
Classic Children’s Books to Fall in Love With
Almost everyone has a special story of how they met the one. You know, that one special book that made you fall in love – with not only what you were reading – but with reading, itself. Since our founding in 1992, we have distributed more than 160 million… Read More

Press Releases
Mario Batali Foundation Celebrates it Triple Initiative to Invest in Boston’s Children With Programs Focused on Literacy and Nutrition
Mario Batali Foundation Joins Forces with Books for Kids, First Book and FoodCorps to Build Libraries, Provide Free Books to Educators, and Make Nutritious Food Attractive and Accessible BOSTON, March 22, 2017 – The Mario Batali Foundation (MBF) has made three major grants to improve literacy and nutrition… Read More

Press Releases
First Book Dramatically Expands Access to Free Books and Educational Resources for Children in Need, Citing Rapid Growth in Demand
First Book National Book Bank launches new platform granting full-time access to resources as the nonprofit social enterprise reports 40 percent increase in registered network WASHINGTON, March 7, 2017 – With school funding in more than 23 states still below pre-recession levels, and with afterschool and youth programs… Read More

Press Releases
First Book Adds “Hidden Figures” to Diverse Titles Available to Educators Serving Kids in Need
Young readers’ edition of story behind real-life heroes now accessible to girls growing up in low-income communities WASHINGTON, March 2, 2017 – “Hidden Figures,” the New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the Oscar-nominated film, is now available at an affordable price to First Book’s network of more… Read More

For Educators
Celebrating Women’s History Month with Stories
March is Women’s History Month. This celebration of half the population became a national observation in February 1980, when President Carter issued a Presidential Proclamation and declared the week of March 8 to be “National Women’s History Week.” Throughout the country, schools celebrated the important contributions women had made in… Read More

Press Releases
Penguin Random House to Publish Forthcoming Books by Former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
NEW YORK CITY, February 28, 2017— Penguin Random House is pleased to announce that it will publish forthcoming books by former President of the United States Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle announced today that the company has acquired world publication rights… Read More

For Educators, Impact Stories
Tools of the Mind: Teaching Children Self-Regulation through Play
Today’s guest blog post is by Dr. Deborah Leong, Executive Director of Tools of the Mind, and coauthor with Dr. Elena Bodrova of “Tools of the Mind: The Vygotskian Approach to Early Childhood Education”, and Barbara Wilder-Smith, Director of Content Development at Tools of the Mind. Tools of the Mind… Read More