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You are currently browsing the First Book Blog weblog archives for March, 2008.
Archive for March 2008
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First Book gets LUCKY!
March 13th, 2008
Diane N.
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Pick up a copy of the March issue of Lucky Magazine and flip to page 262 to find a fun mention of your favorite literacy charity!
Now through April 1, when you buy Erie Basin’s “Mary Preston” 18K Gold Pansy Studs, Coclico‘s “Sugar” ballet flats, Greenwich Letterpress’s “Austin Press Little Poppy” notecards, or Rachel Nasvik’s “Janet” wallet, you can help bring new books to the children who need them most.
30% of every purchase benefits First Book. Here’s a big thank you to Lucky and these partners for shining its bright and stylish spotlight on literacy!
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Gates’ Random Fact of the Week
March 12th, 2008
Gates
Leave a Comment »The week of March 10th…
I just found out a fact that surprised me. Anchorage, AK has the most coffee shops per capita, and I thought Seattle had that stat in the bag! Anchorage had 48 coffee shops when the survey was conducted in 2005, but I have yet to be to one of them.I love going to a coffee shop with my favorite book and enjoy the scene. So, if you love coffee shops to experience coffee paradise, a trip to Anchorage is a must.
St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner so walk over to your favorite shop and add a little Irish creamer to celebrate the season.
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Community Spotlight: Book Buddies of Long Beach, CA
March 10th, 2008
Matthew W.
Leave a Comment »Recipient Group name & location: Book Buddies, literacy program of the Molina Foundation. Based in Long Beach, CA, Book Buddies has provided books to children in California since November 2002. In 2007 Book Buddies expanded its program to seven additional states: Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Washington and Nevada.
Children Served Annually: We typically distribute 10,000 - 15,000 books a month and 100,000 books annually.
How do you use First Book books? We visit hospitals, shelters, schools, Head Start programs and community based organizations to promote literacy. First Book books are always the highlight of the visit - a brand new book that the child gets to keep for their very own. Usually we will read stories to the kids and talk about the importance of reading.
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Gates’ Random Fact of the Week
March 7th, 2008
Gates
Leave a Comment »First Book is about giving kids new books but what happens to the books after they have been used and loved. Some books may have ended up on shelves in Boulder, CO which has the most used book shops per capita anywhere in the country.
Right in the heart of downtown Pearl Street is Boulder Bookshop which carries all the best sellers but is treasured for its huge selection of out of print and used book collection. My suggestion is if you ever have chance to visit Boulder make sure you check out a used book shop and search for a book from your past.
If you want to find more triva about Boulder, CO click here.
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First Book University in Florida
March 6th, 2008
Elizabeth M.
Leave a Comment »First Book University kicked off the year with a reception and Seminar in Tampa on Friday, February 22. Both events were held at the offices of our partners, SunTrust Mortgage. On Thursday evening, SunTrust Mortgage associates, Advisory Board members, Recipient Groups, and community members gathered to network and learn more about First Book.
Jennifer Pierce with Bess the Book Bus provided a snapshot of what it has been like to
receive books from the First Book Marketplace and National Book Bank. She brought wonderful photos and letters from the children and drove to the event in Bess. Ken Bakunas, chair of First Book-Tampa Bay, provided the Advisory Board’s perspective and turned out to be the popular person of the evening as programs approached him to learn more about how to receive books from the Board. -
Take action to support RIF and children’s literacy
March 6th, 2008
Katie B.
Leave a Comment »Reading is Fundamental (RIF), a national nonprofit literacy organization and a good friend of First Book, needs your help. The President’s proposed fiscal year 2009 budget eliminates the RIF Book Distribution Program. Unless Congress reinstates funding for this program, RIF will be unable to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation’s youngest and most at-risk children.
While RIF is hard at work demonstrating to Congress the importance of reinstating their program’s funding, they need the help of all of us who believe in the power of books in the lives of children. We urge all of the First Book community to reach out to their members of Congress to request the reinstatement of RIF funding. Your voice, as a constituent, is the most important resource we have to make sure that Congress protects this critical program.
Please act now and help RIF build support for reinstating the funding by sending an e-mail to your members of Congress. Ask them to support the reinstatement of RIF’s funding in the coming budget process.
We hope you will share this message with family, friends and colleagues who could also contact members of Congress. Thank you for your support as First Book and RIF work to bring new books and resources to the kids who need them most!
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Children’s Picture Book Art Moves to the Head of the Class!
March 5th, 2008
Jen W.
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Imagine my surprise as I opened up the Washington DC Express paper this morning only to find my favorite hungry Caterpillar staring right back at me on page 33!It seems the secret is now out, folks – children’s book illustrations really ARE art (we and our pals at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art knew it all along!)
Take a look at the AP story by Stephanie Reitz that discusses how illustrations from popular kids’ books are gaining in status.
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James Patterson “Looks Beyond Age Limits” in the New York Times
March 4th, 2008
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »If you voraciously read the Harry Potter series, or have looked forward to bedtime with your kids just to see where the plot was going in their latest book, you know that young adult literature can be fun and entertaining for all ages.
Best-Selling author and First Book supporter, James Patterson, was recently featured in the New York Times for his efforts to spread the word about young adult literature, and encouraging book stores to promote these books in similar ways to his adult novels.
Of his young adult series, Maximum Ride, Patterson is “convinced that there aren’t enough books like this- books that kids can pick up and go ‘Wow, that was terrific, I wouldn’t mind reading another book.’” For Mr. Patterson, “The most important thing to me is that more kids read these.”
You can read more of the New York Times article online by clicking here.
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Promoting Literacy Through Service
March 3rd, 2008
Katie B.
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Since 2007, First Book and Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for women have worked together to bring thousands of new books to children in need across the country. This past weekend, in celebration of Read Across America Day and the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity Day of service, Pi Phi members joined together to “Make Their Mark for Literacy” and generate 50,000 books for disadvantaged children.Throughout the Fraternity’s 140-year history, Pi Beta Phi and its members have supported literacy and education for children and families everywhere. Pi Beta Phi alumnae, Elizabeth Eastwick, recently shared how the organization’s commitment to promoting literacy has touched her life.
“When I first joined Pi Phi as a collegian, I was immediately drawn to the philanthropy that the fraternity had adopted—literacy. As an educated woman, I knew what a gift literacy was for children and adults. I became involved with the philanthropy at the local level, volunteering at one of the elementary schools in the area as a reading tutor. This experience inspired me to make literacy my focus of study as an undergraduate, as I researched the many different ways children learn to read with the director of the Combined Program for Education and Psychology at the University of Michigan. Researching how children learn moved my career path to education.
As an educator, promoting literacy is extremely important to me. I have involved my students with the recent literacy initiatives through Pi Phi. On Read Across America day, we dressed as Dr. Seuss characters and took time out to read to ourselves and to the younger children at our school. This year, we are raising funds and awareness for First Book. My students are overwhelmed by the statistics on literacy. They now see the importance of reading, just as I did when I first joined Pi Phi. Bringing the cause of literacy to a new generation of young women has been so fulfilling. I only hope that they pass on the message and the gift of reading to the next generation.”
First Book is thankful for the support of Pi Phi members and alumnae across North America that will help provide beautiful, new books to children who need them the most. Congratulations on a successful Fraternity Day of Service!