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You are currently browsing the First Book Blog weblog archives for December, 2007.
Archive for December 2007
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Happy Holidays from the First Book Blog Team!
December 21st, 2007
Rachel C.
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First Book in Fast Company, O Magazine, Domino and more!
December 20th, 2007
Katie B.
Leave a Comment »If you have a minute for some leisure reading (perhaps while waiting in a long checkout line or in a waiting area), be sure to check out First Book in the December issues of these magazines:
Fast Company Magazine highlights First Book as a 5 year winner of Fast Company/Monitor Group’s Social Capitalist award, recognizing outstanding entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations.O Magazine features First Book among several nonprofits that prove that even small donations can make a big difference in the world in their article “The Year of Giving Brilliantly” on page 303.
Domino Magazine highlighted First Book as an alternative gift for people on your list that don’t want (or need) anything this holiday in the “Antidote to Overload” article found on page 160.
Parenting Magazine encourages moms to give the gift of reading by contributing to First Book in their “Mom Notes” feature on page 25.Washingtonian Magazine features First Book as one of several Washington, DC area charities that are making a difference locally as a suggestion for year-end donations in the “Doing Good” article on pages 115-119.
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First Book Advisory Board Spotlight- Susan Ring
December 20th, 2007
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »Susan Ring, First Book-Bonneville County, ID. Susan Ring is the Recipient Group Liaison for First Book-Bonneville County in Idaho Falls, ID. In addition to her regular contacts with area Recipient Groups, Susan typically goes above and beyond as a First Book advocate. For example, the last 3 years she has helped organize a First Book Book Fair. This year’s event, which took place on November 17th, included a day of reading for children and adults during which Susan organized readers to participate in a children’s story time and coordinated an open mic reading event for adults. Without Susan’s dedication, the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Book Fairs would not have been as great of a success. Congratulations, Susan and thank you for all you do.
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Need a Great Last Minute Gift for that Book Lover in Your Life?
December 19th, 2007
Jen W.
Leave a Comment »Then look no further! Our friends at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art have pulled together a beautiful anthology in the new volume
Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art.
Beloved children’s book artists such as Rosemary Wells, Jerry Pinkney, Eric Carle, and a host of others share photographs of their early work, their studios and materials, and their thoughts on becoming an artist. The book, complete with fold-out pages, also contains beautiful self-portraits that showcase each artist’s signature style. This one-of-a-kind book is perfect for all ages, especially young artists.
All proceeds benefit the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, so order your copy today! Limited edition fully-signed copies are also available through the Eric Carle Museum Bookshop. Please contact shop@picturebookart.org or call (413) 658-1129.
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Everyone a Philanthropist
December 18th, 2007
Diane N.
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Can Facebook be used for the greater good?That’s what the Case Foundation is out to discover. Last Thursday marked the launch of their Giving Challenge in partnership with Causes on Facebook — an intriguing experiment that will test the impact of so-called “viral philanthropy.”
The challenge is for nonprofits large and small to inspire the highest number of online donors over a 50-day period (now through January 31) for a chance to win an additional $50,000. Significantly, the emphasis is not on the total amount raised by each nonprofit, but on the number of donors engaged. The shift reflects a broad and growing interest in engaging not only those wealthier individuals traditionally engaged in philanthropy, but a wider audience at the grassroots level as well.
In an interview in the New York Times, Jean Case, co-founder of the Case Foundation, explains:
“Philanthropy shouldn’t be defined as a bunch of rich people writing big checks. Small amounts of money given by large numbers of individuals can be combined to do great things.”
At First Book, we couldn’t agree more. Every $10 — the minimum donation in the Facebook-hosted challenge — donated to First Book places four brand new books into the hands of a child in need, sparking a love of reading. What better proof that even the smallest contributions can make a tangible, even life-changing, impact?
Take a look: visit Facebook and help us show that everyone has the power to make a difference.
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First Book kids say thanks!
December 17th, 2007
Rachel C.
1 Comment »Kids who have received books from First Book frequently send touching thank you letters. We think it’s time to start sharing them with you as a testament to the impact of reading. This one is from a third-grader who got to take home a brand-new book.
Dear First Book,
Thank you for the awesome books. We lost all of ours in Hurricane Katrina. I love reading books. Books take me places where I haven’t been before. When I’m bored I read and then I’m not bored anymore.
Third grader,
Madison -
Join First Book, KN Karen Neuburger and Laura Numeroff in Seattle
December 14th, 2007
Katie B.
Leave a Comment »What could be better than spending a Friday afternoon with a lovable mouse, hot chocolate and a best-selling author? If you said doing it all while in a pair of cozy pjs, then you’d be right.
First Book would like to invite all of our friends and readers in the Seattle area to a Books at Bedtime pajama party and reading hosted by KN Karen Neuburger, with special guest and author, Laura Numeroff.
The event will be held TODAY, Friday, December 14 at 4:00 pm at the Nordstrom store in Bellevue, Washington.Laura will share a reading from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and there will be snacks, activities and prizes for children of all ages. More information about the event can be found online or in the invitation at left. We hope you’ll join us!
Not in the Seattle area, but still want to join in the Books at Bedtime pajama party fun? You can find everything you need, from the cozy Mouse print pajamas (for adults and kids) to downloadable party hats and tips by visiting the Books at Bedtime Web site.
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Help us Close the Book on 2007!
December 14th, 2007
Mary Beth F.
Leave a Comment »Throughout the month of December, First Book and Pi Beta Phi are helping to get even more books to kids by doubling the value of every click on The Literacy Site.
The Literacy Site is a philanthropic website where each click visitors helps to generate new books for children in need. With a simple click on The Literacy Site, you can help trigger a donation of books to disadvantaged children, at no cost to you.
If visitors can help us generate 45,134 books during December, we will reach our goal for 2007 and will raising 300,000 brand new books for children in need through The Literacy Site.
Help us reach our goal by visiting The Literacy Site and clicking today (and every day)!
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FBU Conducts Last Seminar of the Year in Atlanta
December 13th, 2007
Shamyra D.
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From November 29-December 1, a team of First Bookers traveled to Atlanta to host a First Book University Seminar for our local Advisory Board volunteers. We were also able to squeeze in several fun events with some of our partners while we were in the area.The first event was a Pi Beta Phi “Literati Glitterati” event, held at The Sweet Lowdown restaurant on Thursday evening. Local volunteers from First Book Advisory Boards—Metro Atlanta, Atlanta Alpha Xi Delta and Georgia Perimeter College—attended to introduce First Book to the women of Pi Beta Phi. A lot a networking took place and we even tasted a wonderful drink in honor of Dr. Seuss…The Seusstini.
On Friday, two different offices for SunTrust Mortgage - one of First Book’s corporate partners - hosted meet and greets. At the first meeting, we chatted over bagels and coffee informing the employees about First Book and our partnership. During the second gathering, members of First Book-Atlanta Alpha Xi Delta and First Book-Atlanta along with representatives from groups that have received books from First Book joined the festivities as we thanked the SunTrust Mortgage employees for their support.
Saturday was the big day for the First Book University Seminar, hosted by our friends Alpha Xi Delta, on Georgia Tech’s campus. We had a total of 21 participants representing six Advisory Boards. The group was full of enthusiastic individuals that were all about “getting books to kids.” Thanks to our wonderful volunteers who participated, great ideas were shared and new relationships were formed.
This First Book University Seminar was our last training for the year! Thanks to all that hosted and attended the eleven additional Seminars held across the country during this inaugural year.
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Appreciating the Magic of Books
December 12th, 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, Sorcery and the Single Girl, is the second book in a series about a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. Ten percent of proceeds from the sale of Sorcery and the Single Girl and Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft, will benefit First Book.Last month, the Klasky clan gathered for Thanksgiving. I got to spend a week with family, eating too much, relaxing from the clamor of work, and catching up with everyone - including my eighteen-month-old nephew, Jake.
When Jake was born, I declared myself to be his “book-aunt.” I celebrated his arrival with a dozen gloriously-illustrated picture books, art that I knew he was far too young to appreciate, but which I had to share with him. As he’s grown older, I’ve supplemented the gorgeous books with more practical ones - a bath book (made of waterproof material) and a few dozen board books.
Jake is not quite speaking yet. Like many babies his age, he’s been taught basic sign language, for “more” and for “please” and for “eat” and for other necessities. He lives in that wonderful but frustrating world of comprehending the majority of what is said to him, but he is not quite able to verbalize his responses (beyond single-syllable grunts that we family lovingly declare to mean one thing or another).
And yet, Jake loves to “read.” He will spend literally hours sitting on someone’s lap, turning the pages of his books and pointing to various items in response to questions. “Where is the baby?” “Where is the red fish?” “Where is the lion?” “What does the lion say?”