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You are currently browsing the First Book Blog weblog archives for June, 2007.
Archive for June 2007
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At the NEA Student Program Conference
June 29th, 2007
Erin T.
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This week, Nicole and I traveled up to King of Prussia, PA to the National Education Association (NEA) Student Program Conference. This was a great chance for us to spread the word about Campus Advisory Boards, encourage the NEA student chapters to get involved, and make sure the programs they serve are registered with First Book. We met an amazing group of students who have chosen education as their career and are truly committed to the welfare of children.
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We’re in the Paper….
June 28th, 2007
Clarissa P.
Leave a Comment »First Book was recently mentioned in the New York Times! Please note that you will need to register for a free NYTimes.com account in order to view the article.
New Ways to Do It Make Giving Away Books a Bit Less Painful.
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What Book Got Me Hooked
June 22nd, 2007
Jorge Goyco
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Guest blogger Jorge Goyco is the author of Stories From Papi.The book that got me hooked was Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. On the surface, it’s a bunch of silly stories about students and teachers in a school that was built incorrectly, but a little digging reveals morals, life lessons and individuality.
For me, it came at a time when everything about school was losing my interest except for my friends. I had stopped doing my homework, and was getting sent to the office more often than not for talking, throwing things and pranks. I made friends easily and could talk to anyone about anything (I’m still like that), so when I read this book, it really confirmed my thoughts and got me noticing how different and interesting everyone around me really was, even the teachers.
I had been feeling out of place in school, looking forward to recess and lunchtime, and this book made me feel like my “out-of-place” feeling was really OK and normal, and it made me feel like I actually fit in perfectly. I realized that my thoughts of feeling like I was “different” were OK to have, and being different was what it was all about.
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Hero of the Month: First Book-Blair County
June 22nd, 2007
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »First Book-Blair County shines brightly with their Treasures Sale held on May 5th, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Members of the church, Advisory Board members and First Book volunteers donated items to be sold at this fundraising event to benefit the Advisory Board. The local Kohl’s department store assisted the Advisory Board in numerous ways by providing volunteers for the event, donating $500 to the Advisory Board, and supplying bags for people to take their goodies home. The Board displayed First Book materials and placed First Book fliers in all bags going home.
The event raised nearly $1,800 for the Advisory Board which translates into over 700 books for children in need. The Treasures Sale is a wonderful example of community spirit, corporate partnership, and grass roots marketing at its best. Keep up the amazing work, First Book-Blair County!
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Hook, Line, and Sinker
June 15th, 2007
Mindy Klasky
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Guest blogger Mindy Klasky is the author of six fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice and numerous short stories. Her latest novel, Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft, is a lighthearted, fictional tale featuring a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Girl’s Guide will benefit First Book.When I first heard about First Book’s What Book Got You Hooked? campaign, I started thinking.
The first books that I remember handling on my own were Dick and Jane readers that my parents bought at an educational supply house. I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment when I sounded out words, but I never really cared about Dick, Jane, or Spot.
I remember going to the public library and checking out dozens and dozens of picture books at a time. (Those trips were as much an exercise in counting as they were in reading!) While I loved specific pages of specific books (Goodnight, Nobody!”), the books themselves weren’t yet magical for me.
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Only Two Days Left in the Cheerios Book Donation Challenge!
June 14th, 2007
Mary Beth F.
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At the end of The Grouchy Ladybug, what does the ladybug learn how to do?To answer this and other questions about your favorite children’s books, visit the Cheerios Book Donation Challenge, and help place new books into the hands of children in need!
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A Hotel Full of Books
June 14th, 2007
Clarissa P.
Leave a Comment »I recently came across this article about the Library Hotel, a luxury “boutique” hotel in New York City.
It’s called the Library Hotel because floors and rooms are assigned numbers and themes according to the Dewey Decimal library catalog system. For example, the 8th floor is Literature, where you can find rooms for Poetry, Fairy Tales, and The Classics. The most requested room is not surprisingly 800.001, Erotic Literature. The least popular - Paranormal.
Some of the other themes are Math & Science (your room choices include Dinosaurs or Geology), The Arts (perhaps a night in a room called Fashion Design?) and History (I think this would definitely make me sleepy!).
In addition to a few dozen books in each of the 60 rooms, more books are scattered through the lobby and other public spaces in the hotel, so bored guests will have no shortage of potential reading material.
Although it’s quite a bit more expensive than just visiting the New York Public Library (which is a block away), the Library Hotel sounds like a pretty fun place to spend a night.
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First Book wants to know: What Book Got You Hooked?
June 13th, 2007
Laura S
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Was it Where the Wild Things Are or Green Eggs and Ham? We think there are some books that no child should have to grow up without. That’s why First Book has launched the What Book Got You Hooked? campaign — tell us what book got you hooked and you’ll have the chance to share the magic with thousands of children in one lucky state.This summer, First Book is celebrating our 15th anniversary and the distribution of our 50 millionth book! Help us get more kids hooked on reading by visiting our website and sharing what book got you hooked on reading. You’ll then be able to vote for the state to receive 50,000 new books for children in need.
You can vote daily through July 31st — so be sure to vote now and often! The winning state and the top 50 books that got America hooked will be announced in August so be sure to stay tuned!
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Take the Cheerios Book Donation Challenge!
June 11th, 2007
Mary Beth F.
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At the end of the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, what does the caterpillar turn into?To answer this and other questions about your favorite children’s books, visit the Cheerios Book Donation Challenge, and help place new books into the hands of children in need!
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First Book on National Public Radio
June 4th, 2007
Beth B.
1 Comment »On Friday, First Book was featured on the National Public Radio business & economics program, Marketplace!
The story highlights our work with publishers and literacy groups around the country to provide books for children in need. It includes interviews with First Book’s President, Kyle Zimmer; Alexandra Nash from Candlewick Press; and Cynthia Kirkpatrick, founder of Sister Power in Harlem, a program that receives books from First Book.
You can listen to the story online, or read a transcript. Please let us know what you think about the story.