As First Book has grown over the past years, we have been fortunate to have earned the support of many wonderful celebrities who value the importance of books in a child’s life.

The amazing stage and film star Joan Allen has participated in more First Book events than we can count! She also serves as a spokesperson for the First Book National Book Bank and on First Book’s National Advisory Board.

We recently did a blog call with Eric Close, who stars in CBS’s Without a Trace and serves as a Verizon Literacy Champion. Reba McEntire is another longstanding hero to First Book. Be sure to check out her Web site at Reba.com. Our Book Relief initiative was launched with generous support from Oprah’s Angel Network.

Marlee Matlin, who is both an actor and acclaimed children’s author, has participated in several First Book special events. Queen Latifah spoke passionately about First Book’s mission at Book Expo America. Jon Stewart did a valiant job “speed-reading” at a Noggin event in New York.

Sonia Manzano, also known as Maria from Sesame Street, joined us on a blog call earlier this year. John Lithgow, another wonderful actor and children’s author, has also done Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for First Book and has appeared on The Literacy Site. Both Nia Vardalos and Christopher Meloni can be seen supporting First Book on PSAs airing on the WE channel.

Rhea Perlman has been another of our star speed-readers, while Susan Sarandon was the special guest at a story hour for children in need. Whoopi Goldberg was the guest of honor during a literacy drive with one of our corporate sponsors.

Award-winning Director Ron Howard helped bring special attention to First Book by making us the charitable partner of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat movie. We can’t forget Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Frankie Muniz and Alexis Bledel — all bright young stars who care about children and books.

These celebrities have given generously of their time. We would love to expand our constellation of star supporters — who else would you like to see involved with First Book?