First Book

Through Time for Change, a global initiative led by First Book, Ashoka, and Teach For All with the support of Audemars Piguet, under the guidance of the Audemars Piguet Foundations, educators and students in six countries across the world are embracing their role as changemakers, empowering students to lead, collaborate, and create positive change in their communities.

The impact speaks for itself with:
✨ 250,000 educators reached
✨ 7.6 million students supported

In Nigeria, teacher-led changemaker clubs are supporting students to develop leadership, empathy, collaboration, and problem-solving skills by tackling real challenges in their schools and communities—from clean water and climate solutions to literacy and collective action. First Book played a key role in developing the resources for educators and students that our partners and are using to bring this work to life around the globe.

Watch the video to discover how students in Nigeria are turning challenges into opportunities for change: https://youtu.be/R3EtcS5nL-8?si=QEsTwPXLDzGyrvUf

Inside a Nigerian Classroom Where Students Lead Change What happens when students are trusted to lead?In this classroom ...

On September 30, every in-store purchase at participating Kendra Scott locations can help support First Book's mission to get books and resources to kids in low-income communities. Proceeds will support First Book through the Kendra Scott Foundation.

If you're shopping in-store, be sure to mention First Book!

Together, we can help put more books into the hands of kids who need them most. 📚💛

⏰ Don’t miss this free virtual event for educators!

On October 29, join the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for Investigating Artifacts: Uncovering Personal Stories from the Holocaust.

Learn how historians examine letters, photographs, and other artifacts to reconstruct and preserve personal experiences for generations to come.

👉 Reserve your spot today: ushmm.org/2026falleventfb

📚 Join us for Open Books, Open Minds: A Celebration of Reading & Literacy tomorrow, September 24!

This free virtual event brings together authors, educators, librarians, and literacy leaders to explore the power of reading and its impact on young learners.

Join First Book's Lou Willey for "For Keeps: Building Home Libraries One Program at a Time," where panelists will share how they help children build home libraries, foster a love of reading, and create programs that put books into the hands of kids and families.

Register now: https://vshow.on24.com/vshow/LIT2026/registration/21443

School Library Journal Library Journal The Horn Book

THANK YOU, dd's! 🎉

Together, we exceeded the goal! Because of the generosity of dd's DISCOUNTS customers and Associates, plus a $100,000 match from Ross Stores Foundation, this year's fundraising campaign raised an incredible $1,106,375, making it our largest dd’s fundraising campaign to date! These funds will support First Book's mission of removing barriers to education for children in low-income communities.

We are deeply grateful to our friends at dd's DISCOUNTS for their longstanding partnership and commitment to helping kids access the books, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Thank you to everyone who donated and made this year's campaign such a success! 💙

We're thrilled to share that First Book has been included in The New York Times Communities Fund for the sixth time!

For six consecutive years, support from The New York Times Communities Fund has helped advance First Book's mission to ensure every child in low-income communities has access to the books and educational resources they need.

We're deeply grateful for the continued recognition and are proud to be included among this year's featured organizations. Thank you to The New York Times Communities Fund for investing in brighter futures for children and communities nationwide.

Read the annoucement: https://www.nytco.com/press/communities-fund-launches-115th-annual-campaign/

We're excited to share more about the partnership behind Story Showdown!

Hosted on the First Book Community Platform, this series is designed to make reading more engaging and accessible for students, while giving educators and youth-serving professionals new ways to connect young people with authors, storytelling, and the arts.

Read more about the partnership and the vision behind Story Showdown: https://bit.ly/4gT4N48

Back-to-school just got a little brighter! 📚

First Book and Dr. Seuss Enterprises are celebrating the new school year by gifting 50 classrooms in 50 states backpacks filled with books, school supplies. This includes Dr. Seuss’ brand-new book, Sing the 50 United States! - a special gift from Random House Children's Books.

Read the full press release: https://tinyurl.com/bdf43xys

📚🎉 Get ready for Story Showdown, a new three-part virtual series from First Book and One Word at a Time—featuring hosts Kwame Alexander and Erin Entrada Kelly!

Our first Showdown kicks off on September 22nd, hosted by best-selling author Kwame Alexander with special guests Jerry Craft, Jennifer L. Holm, and Tiffany D. Jackson.

Students will meet the people behind their favorite books, laugh as acclaimed authors compete in creative challenges, and leave inspired to read, create, and share their own voices.

Throughout the series, participating First Book members will have a chance to win books, a free registration to One Word at a Time’s Author Study program, a virtual author visit, and even an in-person visit from Kwame!

📅 September 22 | 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

👥 Designed for students ages 9-14

📍 Available for FREE—exclusively on the First Book Community Platform

👉 RSVP today: https://tinyurl.com/2h52vr7x