-
You are currently browsing the First Book Blog weblog archives for September, 2006.
Archive for September 2006
-
National Book Festival
September 29th, 2006
Jen W.
1 Comment »The National Book Festival, one of Washington, D.C.’s largest literary events of the year, will be held tomorrow on the National Mall from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The festival is free and open to the public, and features more than 70 award-winning authors, illustrators and poets appearing in “Fiction & Fantasy,” “Mysteries & Thrillers,” “History & Biography,” “Children,” “Teens & Children,” “Poetry,” and “Home & Family” pavilions.
If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop by the main pavilion and say hello to our First Book volunteers. See you there!
-
Children Need Laureates Too!
September 29th, 2006
Jen W.
Leave a Comment »The Poetry Foundation has named beloved children’s author Jack Prelutsky its first Children’s Poet Laureate to help raise awareness and to encourage more poets to write for children. Over the past 40 years, Prelutsky has written more than 35 books of children’s poetry and edited several anthologies. Learn more about Jack Prelutsky on the Poetry Foundation website.
-
Who needs another blender?
September 28th, 2006
Nicole T.
Leave a Comment »Last month we welcomed a new Campus Advisory Board at Rutgers University that will be working in the New Brunswick community of New Jersey. Within a few days of their official start, I received an envelope bulging with checks from one of their members. Since the board was so new, I was curious about how they had raised the money so quickly.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the donations were raised at a housewarming party. Shawn M. had moved into a new home and was planning a housewarming party. Some of the guests started asking about gifts and if they were registered anywhere. He realized they already had everything they needed and decided in lieu of gifts to accept donations for First Book.
-
In Remembrance of William Norris
September 27th, 2006
Kyle Zimmer
2 Comments »I want to take a moment to call your attention to the death of William Norris. Unless you are a student of the computer industry, you are unlikely to know the name — but there are important reasons to honor his legacy — because you are part of it.
In 1957, Bill founded a main-frame computer company called Control Data, which grew to become a world-wide leader throughout the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. Bill was courageous in his business life. He took on IBM and became a fierce competitor of this giant so early in his career that IBM’s Chairman, Thomas Watson, complained in a 1963 memo that IBM had lost its leadership position in the industry to a company whose laboratory employed “only 34 people, including the janitor.”
But there are many impressive business leaders — Bill was impressive for more important reasons. He was one of the earliest people in the world to harness the power of the private sector to serve the needs of the social sector. His commitment could be seen both in the internal life of the company and far beyond. Under Bill, Control Data became one of the first businesses to offer on-site day care for employees’ children. He later designed a computer-based educational system called Plato that he worked to place within prisons to assist in developing employable skills for inmates. He built his factories in the slums after the mid-1960 urban riots, started agricultural projects in Alaska to increase employment opportunities, and funded experimental wind farms.
-
Children’s Literature Icons Celebrated in NYC
September 25th, 2006
Jen W.
1 Comment »The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, founded in part by beloved children’s author Eric Carle and a proud partner of First Book, has announced the launch of The Carle Honors!
The awards are designed to recognize those who have demonstrated a lifelong dedication to the creation, support, and promotion of the art of the picture book. The awards and their inaugural recipients — Rosemary Wells, Helen Bing, Ann Beneduce, and Mort Schindel — will be celebrated tonight at a special Benefit Dinner in New York City, hosted by Leonard S. Marcus and Jane Curley.
-
Fearless on the Gulf Coast
September 21st, 2006
Kit L.
1 Comment »The First Book office is in a central location in downtown Washington, DC, and the options for how to spend a lunch hour are endless. One of my favorite things to do is to visit book stores, particularly for author readings and book signings.
I had heard that Arianna Huffington was going to be in town earlier this week to promote her new book, On Becoming Fearless, and decided to go, meet her and buy the book. I was intrigued by the topic. I have always felt that if you could envision something it could be achieved, but the problem is getting started, taking those first uncomfortable steps, putting aside whatever fears are holding you back.
-
Books in Your Inbox
September 20th, 2006
Clarissa P.
3 Comments »We all know how important it is to get kids reading, but us adults tend to get caught up in our busy lives and not find time to read. I just found a neat website called Daily Lit that allows you to read books by email, for free!
You can choose from a number of older books that are in the public domain (past their copyright period), and sign up to receive emails daily (or every weekday) with the book split up into small sections. Each section takes only a few minutes to read. The number of emails depends on the length of the book: Macbeth is only 27 emails, while War and Peace is 675.
I signed up for The Wizard of Oz (I’ve seen the movie but never read the book) and I’m currently on the third installment. It’s fun to have something to look forward to in my inbox every morning. This could also come in handy for anyone with a PDA or cellphone that gets email — you can make sure you have something to read while you’re on the bus or waiting in line at the bank.
-
Talk Like a Pirate Day
September 19th, 2006
Clarissa P.
Leave a Comment »Today is international Talk Like a Pirate Day. Every September 19th, people around the world celebrate this unusual holiday by incorporating phrases like “Ahoy, Matey,” “Aaaaargh!,” and “Shiver Me Timbers” into their vocabularies. What’s the point? Well, there really isn’t one, as far as I can tell, but it’s good fun!
Here at the First Book office, we’re a bit disappointed that this holiday doesn’t rate a day off, but we’re celebrating anyway. I can hear Rachael and Gerard doing their “pirate talk” from down the hallway.
-
Your Summer Vacation
September 19th, 2006
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »This is an exciting time of the year to have my job at First Book. As one of the Campus Advisory Board Managers, autumn is a busy time of helping the CABs prepare for the new school year and also hearing about what they did during their summer vacations.
Some of the CAB members traveled for study or pleasure, sending me emails from Cairo, Rwanda, India and Italy just to name a few. Other members worked or had internships, and some in DC even had a chance to stop by our office.
So as the new school year begins yet again, I pose the quintessential question, “What did you do on your summer vacation?”
-
First Book has got the Blues
September 19th, 2006
Mary Beth F.
1 Comment »
The Blues Clues Play area at JFK Airport
With the summer coming to a close, almost everyone I know, from parents to college students, is gearing up for the new school year.
At First Book, we’re helping children head back to the classroom by teaming up with JetBlue and Nick Jr. to launch the Jet Back to School with Blue campaign, a celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Blue’s Clues and the importance of reading and books in lives of children. Together with First Book, JetBlue and Nick Jr. will be distributing more than 50,000 new books to children in need.
Where will the books be distributed, you ask? Well, actually, the choice is up to you! Simply visit www.firstbook.org/blue and can cast your vote for which JetBlue community should receive the upcoming book distribution.
