First Book

Juneteenth is a time to recognize and remember history. Books can bring history to life and offer perspectives that deepen understanding.

Explore titles on the First Book Marketplace that celebrate Black characters, cultures, and history. Find books that highlight key moments and movements throughout American history.

👉 Browse the collection: https://bit.ly/3QjjoLJ

Many children, especially those living in low-income communities, risk losing reading skills over the summer. Without access to books at home or nearby, it can be difficult to continue reading outside of the classroom.

This loss, often called the “summer slide,” can put kids at a disadvantage when they return to school in the fall.

First Book works to ensure kids have books of their own to read all summer long—and your support helps make that possible.

👉 Give today to give kids the tools they need to return to school ready to learn: https://bit.ly/4uHjtHb

Across six countries, Time for Change is now reaching more than 7 million students and 200,000 educators. This shared initiative led by Ashoka, First Book, and Teach For All, in collaboration with Audemars Piguet under the guidance of the Audemars Piguet Foundations, is building momentum toward our goal of embedding changemaking into everyday learning.

Beyond the numbers, what stands out is how this impact takes shape on the ground:

In Lagos, Nigeria, a teacher who went through a Time for Change sponsored training program designed for educators in public secondary schools began to shift his classroom approach. Instead of focusing only on content delivery, he created space for students to take more ownership of their learning. First Book is proud to have co-led the development of resources used in the teacher training program.

From that shift, Peer Power emerged: a student-led tutoring initiative where learners support each other in English, Mathematics, and Science.
As a result, students started approaching learning through empathy, encouragement, and shared responsibility. Over time, confidence grew on both sides, and those who had struggled began to improve and believe in their own abilities.

The initiative later received national recognition in Nigeria. But its most meaningful outcome reflects a broader pattern across Time for Change in all six countries where the initiative has come to life: when educators are equipped with the right tools and mindset, they unlock behaviors that extend well beyond the classroom.

Book Foundations

This year, KPMG’s Community Impact Day brought people together in a powerful way, with 2,000+ volunteers, 110+ events, and 26,000+ books distributed to kids and families across the country in just one day!

Through the KPMG Friends and Family for Literacy partnership with First Book, employees stepped into classrooms and community programs to read with students and support educators.

👉 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4v6I4Gd

Happy International Day of Play! 🎉

Play can be so much more than just fun. It supports learning, builds important life skills, and contributes to children’s overall well-being.

Whether it’s participating in sports or bringing a story to life by acting out scenes from a book, these moments of creativity and exploration help children learn and grow.

Let’s celebrate the many ways kids learn through play today and every day!

Shop now: https://bit.ly/4okDWQq

When students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to think creatively, they develop the self-confidence they need to thrive.

First Book offers access to high-quality books and resources to help educators empower students and build their confidence.

In our latest blog, we explore how confidence grows and share the resources that can help make it possible.

👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/4o603dc

We’re proud to partner with The Moth to bring storytelling tools directly to educators!

📝 Bring Moth storytelling techniques to your classroom!

For the first time ever, The Moth, in partnership with First Book, has released a series of on-demand video workshop trainings for educators. You’ll learn how to use your lived experiences to engage your classroom, convey your ideas, and strengthen your connection with students.

Register here and start your storytelling journey today: https://bit.ly/3RDppTv

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

Celebrate LGBTQ+ joy, history, and brilliance by exploring our LGBTQ+ Characters and Cultures section on the First Book Marketplace. These powerful titles can help readers see themselves and understand others.

Explore now: https://bit.ly/4u9y91p

As we continue to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Month, we’re proud to highlight a partnership that supports educators and students alike.

For more than 13 years, First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundations have distributed more than 208,000 books and resources to communities in the New York City and Nassau County areas. Together, our work empowers educators and expands opportunity for kids living in low-income communities.

We’re grateful for partners like the Guru Krupa Foundation who are committed to creating lasting change.

🔗 Learn more about our partnership: https://tinyurl.com/mucuj7xw

Students bring so much more than academic needs into the classroom, and supporting their well-being is essential to helping them learn and thrive.

At First Book, we connect educators with resources and practical strategies to support student mental health, from creating welcoming learning environments to building healthy habits in the classroom.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re sharing the tools and resources available to help educators support student well-being every day.

👉 Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/hu3su7hr