First Book Blog

Win Games and Activities to Make Learning Fun All Summer Long!

Posted in: For Educators

Looking for creative ways to make learning fun in your summer program? Want to ward off summer boredom? Need activities to keep parents engaged in their child’s learning while school is out? Simply answer the question “How would you use these activities to encourage summer learning?” by commenting on this... Read more

Four Easy Steps to Become a Champion for Kids in Need

Posted in: For Educators

You’ve got a great fundraising idea. You have a goal. You’re excited to provide books and resources for kids in need. Now what? First Book Campaigns makes starting an individual or group campaign easier than ever. Follow these four steps and become a champion for children in need today! Create... Read more

This Girl Wrote One Email to Help Kids in Need

Posted in: Impact Stories

For thirteen year old Elka Longstreth, books have always been within arm’s reach, ready to transport her to another world. In fact, books are her world. Elka has books piling up on her desk and spilling out of the many bookshelves in her home. She’s always been a voracious reader.... Read more

You Have The Power to Change a Child’s Life

Posted in: For Educators, Impact Stories

You have the power to change a child’s life by doing what you love. By hosting First Book campaigns, hundreds of people have provided books and resources to children in need. They’ve asked friend and family to make donations to their campaign instead of purchasing  birthday gifts. Others have thrown... Read more

New Books by our Favorite Authors

Posted in: For Educators

Some of our favorite children’s book authors have been very busy in 2016. We are thrilled to share that their latest works are now available on the First Book Marketplace! Teachers Rock  – written and illustrated by Todd Parr From admiring the way teachers foster creativity in the classroom to... Read more

Monthly Book List: Our Favorite Books this June

Posted in: For Educators

Are you looking for a giggle-filled bedtime story? A book about friendship and the summer Olympics? You’ll find that and so much more in our favorite books this month… Teach kids to coding this summer with a fun story, learn about the history of jazz musicians in the 1950s or... Read more

This is a Life He Never Imagined

Posted in: Impact Stories

When Antwon’s kids get a little older, he plans to tell them what he’s been through. A 25-year-old father of three, he’s working hard to give them all a better life. Today, he is employed as a plumber, studying to get his GED and has completed a leadership and empowerment... Read more

First Book’s Community of Educators Tops 275,000, Provides Growing Insights, Market Power to Further Educational Equity

Posted in: Press Releases

Network Now Reaches 20 Percent of Classrooms, Programs Serving Children in Need WASHINGTON, June 14, 2016 – A second grade teacher in Atlanta, the executive director of a literacy program in Nashville, and a school librarian in Lyman, Wyo. These are just a few of the growing number of educators... Read more

A Simple Bag of Books Can Help Beat Summer Slide

Posted in: Impact Stories

Aliyah had always been a reluctant reader. While other students curled up with their favorite stories during reading time, Aliyah struggled to find books that captured her imagination. That is until Aliyah was introduced to Books for Keeps, a nonprofit based in Athens, Georgia that offers kids the opportunity to... Read more

Make Time to Play!

Posted in: For Educators

Today’s kids are playing less than any other generation. Play is losing out to TV, recess times have declined and many children in low-income communities lack safe spaces to run, jump and be active. But play is essential to kids’ learning. Play helps encourage kids to explore and use their... Read more