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Posts in category Around the First Book Office

Happy Halloween!

Oct31
2011
Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

For the seventh year running, the staff of First Book journeyed to Ben’s Chili Bowl, a D.C. landmark, to celebrate Halloween, display their costumes, and eat half smokes. We hope you have a spooky and spectacular Halloween!

Tagged halloween

First Book Friday: Summer Learning Day

Jun24
2011
Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

In celebration of National Summer Learning Day, First Book was lucky enough to bring 150,000 brand-new books to the National Mall to stuff into backpacks going to children in need all over the country. Seeing the  the hundreds of volunteers that came out to support our efforts was a moving and inspiring sight. Thanks to the hard work of all those involved, we were able to provide  50,000 children with 3 brand-new books of their own for the summer.

Our goal is to get 2 MILLION BOOKS to underprivileged kids throughout the country this summer. If you know of any programs or schools that serve underprivileged children, have them register with us to get books to their students (http://www.firstbook.org/receive-books).

Please check out some of the photos and video that captures the fun and excitement of our distribution:

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United Way Day of Action 010

Copy of IMG_3054
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Posted in Book Distributions, Books & Reading, First Book Events, First Book Friday, Literacy, Philanthropy, Video, Volunteers

When Life Gives You O.J.

Jun14
2011
Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

First Book’s own Erica Perl, Director of Publisher Relations at First Book, is also an award-winning children’s book author. Her most recent effort, When Life Gives You O.J., is her first middle grade novel and was called “a must read for all 8-12 year olds”. Erica’s love and knowledge of children’s literature is a huge help to us at First Book, and we’re so proud that her new book has been chosen as an Amazon Best Book for June, 2011. 

When Life Gives You O.J. focuses on almost-eleven-year-old Zelly Fried, who has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog for years. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, and it sure could go a long way helping Zelly fit in since moving there from Brooklyn.  But when her eccentric grandfather, Ace, hatches a ridiculous plan involving a “practice dog” named O.J., Zelly’s not so sure how far she’s willing to go to win a dog of her own.  Is Ace’s plan so-crazy-it-just-might-work… or just plain crazy?

In honor of the release of When Life Gives You O.J., Erica will be giving away a gift set that includes a signed copy of the book, a water bottle, and bag on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. How to win? Follow @Firstbook on twitter tomorrow and answer this simple question: “What is a good children’s book for the summer?” Make sure to use the hashtag #kidlit in your response. The winner will be picked randomly and announced on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

Check out the book trailer for When Life Gives You O.J. below:

watch?v=6dC_3625Y7c

Posted in Books & Reading - Tagged Erica Perl, giveaway, summer reading, When Life Gives You O.J.

First Book Friday: My First Book Distribution

Jun10
2011
Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

Today’s guest blog post is from Susanne Sparks, an engagement manager at First Book. She’s passionate about leveling the playing field so that all children can learn, grow, and thrive.

Last week, I traveled to Jacksonville, Fla. with three of my colleagues to distribute books via the First Book National Book Bank. As a new staff member, I knew facts about how the First Book National Book Bank operated, but was eager to learn more about the process.

Susanne Sparks

The First Book National Book Bank distributes excess inventory from over 90 publishing partners to educators and youth workers serving children from impoverished homes. Disney Publishing Worldwide donated the 430,000 we processed out of Jacksonville.

The distribution had three phases. Tuesday, apply shipping labels to half of the boxes and get them out the door via six tractor trailers. Wednesday, gather boxes of books for pick-up at the warehouse. Thursday and Friday, meet the recipient group representatives—teachers, youth workers, and other “changemakers”—and help load the books into their cars, trucks, trailers, and yes, even a school bus.

READ MORE »

Posted in Book Distributions, Books & Reading, First Book Events, Guest Blog Posts, Volunteers - Tagged Book Bank, Book Distributions, Disney Publishing Worldwide, Florida, Jacksonville, Susanne Sparks

Happy Mother’s Day! Send Your Mom a Nifty First Book e-Card

May05
2011
Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

Moms are near and dear to us, here at First Book. Many of us are moms, and all of us have moms, of course, but more than that, when we look at the people who support First Book – through donations, volunteering and helping us spread the word – we see a lot of mothers. We think that’s because, while no one likes to see kids without books to call their own, mothers like it even less than the rest of us.

Happy Mother's Day from First BookSo to celebrate Mother’s Day, please consider making a donation to First Book in the name of a special mom in your life, and send her this nifty e-card to let her know you were thinking about her. We’ll use your generous donation to continue providing access to new books for children in need.

 

READ MORE »

Tagged First Book, mother's day

Thank you so much …

Apr15
2011
Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

This week is National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we want to take a moment to say “Thank you!” to all the First Book volunteers – the interns who give their time and knowledge at the First Book offices, the volunteers who come out to our reading parties and book distributions, the high school students and teachers who help us distribute tons of books (literally) each year, and the thousands of members of First Book Advisory Boards all across the country who raise over a million dollars every year to support schools and programs in their local communities.

Thank you!

We couldn’t do it without you.

Posted in Advisory Boards, Volunteers - Tagged First Book, National Volunteer Appreciation Week, volunteers

Human Rights Advocate Wu Qing Visits First Book

Apr13
2011
Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

Wu Qing, political leader and and renowned human rights advocate, with Kyle Zimmer at the First Book office in Washington DCWu Qing, a political leader and and renowned human rights advocate, visited the First Book office yesterday to tell us a little about her work in China. One of the many hats she wears is that of an educator: helping rural women in China find their voice in a society often dominated by men. READ MORE »

Posted in Education, Literacy - Tagged China, First Book, Kyle Zimmer, Wu Qing

March Madness: Basketball Books

Mar31
2011
Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

First Book loves March Madness! We even have a “friendly” bracket competition going on in the office – although President Obama’s bracket was beating all of us the last time we checked.

Even in the midst of the drama and excitement of the tournament, we recognize that basketball teaches so many meaningful life lessons: courage, cooperation, dedication and hard work. Many of the inspirational lessons taught on the basketball court can also be found in the basketball-related titles that we carry in the First Book Marketplace. READ MORE »

Posted in Books & Reading, Marketplace - Tagged around the office, Basketball, Chris Paul, First Book Marketplace, Frank Morrison, Fred Bowen, Laurence Yep, Sports

We (Heart) Dr. Seuss

Mar03
2011
Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

The First Book staff celebrates Read Across America Day, 2011

The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

Happy birthday to Dr. Seuss, from all your friends at First Book!

What did YOU do to celebrate Read Across America Day?

Posted in Books & Reading - Tagged Dr. Seuss, First Book, Read Across America Day

Happy Friendiversary!

Feb01
2011
Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

The First Book Friendiversary Celebration

Today is the first annual First Book Friendiversary! We are very excited.

A Friendiversary, of course, is the anniversary of a friendship. Think of one of your oldest and dearest friends. When did you first meet? How did you meet? That story is the story of your Friendiversary.

To celebrate Friendiversary, First Book teamed up with Mo Willems, the author of some truly terrific books for kids and a good friend of ours. Mo wanted to do something special for some of the kids in New Orleans (where he grew up) and Springfield, Mass. (near where he lives now). So today, thousands of 2nd-graders in those two cities are getting their very own copy of one of Mo’s ‘Elephant & Piggie‘ books – and celebrating with Friendiversary parties in their classrooms.

We are big fans of both Mo’s award-winning work and his generosity, and we were proud to be able to help him get these books to the kids in those schools. To mark the occasion, we even had a Friendiversary celebration of our own. You can see some photos below. The ‘Pig’ team won the dance competition, but the ‘Elephant’ team has vowed to practice hard and take the prize next year.

We’ll share some stories from the kids as soon as we hear them. In the meantime, we’d love to hear your own Friendiversary stories. We know you have some good ones. Share them with us in the comments section below, or on our Facebook page.
First Book staffers celebrate Friendiversary
First Book staffers celebrate Friendiversary
First Book staffers celebrate Friendiversary

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Book Distributions, Books & Reading - Tagged Elephant & Piggie, First Book, Friendiversary, Mass., Mo Willems, New Orleans, Springfield
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