Posts in category BEA 2006

New Shop to Support Products!

Jun29
2009 Written by Meghan R.

Searching for that perfect gift for birthdays, graduations and other special occasions? Then check out First Book’s new line of Shop to Support products.

Find the catchy slogan “A Book Today, a Friend Forever” logo on a variety of products ranging from notebooks to Sigg water bottles, and golf shirts to baby bibs. A portion of proceeds from each of these products benefits First Book. When you purchase “A Book Today, A Friend Forever” merchandise, you can also help provide new books to children who need them most!

Browse through “A Book Today, A Friend Forever” gear and other products that benefit First Book at www.firstbook.org/shop and give while you shop!

Posted in Books & Reading, General - Tagged , ,

Tell us: What Book Got YOU Hooked?

Jul16
2008 Written by Diane N.

Just in time for summer, First Book is once again launching the campaign that celebrates the books that first made reading fun.

Now through September 15, visit FirstBook.org to share the memory of the first book that made you love reading and you’ll get to vote for the state to receive 50,000 brand new books for children in need. Last year’s books went to the winning state of Oklahoma. Help us choose this year’s!

Cast your vote and then help get more kids hooked: donate to First Book to give new books to a child in need. As little as $5 brings two brand new books to a child in need. Visit FirstBook.org now!

Posted in Books & Reading, General

A Tribute to Tim Russert

Jun18
2008 Written by Jen W.

All of us here at the First Book office in DC have been hit hard by the recent death of one of DC’s most familiar figures, author and television host Tim Russert.

Loyal readers of the First Book blog might remember this post from our coverage of Book Expo America 2006, when the meeting was held here in Washington, DC. Tim Russert was the keynote speaker for the show. I had the luck to be there that night and to hear him tell the audience about “Big Russ,” his beloved son Luke, and the joys of the writing process. I’ll never forget it.

In a lovely tribute to Tim, our friends over at Book Expo America have posted the 2006 podcast of Tim’s speech on their web site. Please have a listen. And keep in mind these words from those great folks over at Storypeople.com:

“It is still so new & all we see is the empty space, but that is not how it is in the landscape of the heart. There, there is no empty space & he still laughs & grapples with ideas & plans & nods wisely with each of us in turn. We are proud to have known him. We are proud to have called him friend.”

Thanks, Tim.

Posted in Authors & Illustrators

A First Book staffer looks back…

Jan10
2008 Written by Andrea T.

First Book staffers Tonya Shive and Andrea Tehan (L-R) with the members of First Book-Wenatchee Valley, WA.Tomorrow I am leaving my job here at First Book, as well as my wonderful Advisory Board volunteers in the states of WA, ND, SD, GA and KY, to pursue a teaching career.  Since I started working at First Book a few months before the blog was born, I thought I would take a moment to look back at some of my favorite posts.

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Posted in Advisory Boards, Around the First Book Office, Book Distributions, Books & Reading

Celebs Cast Their Votes for Literacy!

Jun10
2006 Written by Jen W.

One of the fun aspects of BookExpo America every year is the unusual opportunity it presents for that great American pastime: celebrity spotting. You can be cruising down the aisles or attending an event and end up rubbing elbows with all sorts of unexpected folks.

For instance, that unassuming guy in the Hawaiian shirt, strolling the aisle and looking at the latest titles? It’s none other than Daniel Handler, Mr. Lemony Snicket himself. Or that perfectly coiffed diva in the stunning pantsuit? It’s Queen Latifah, promoting her new children’s book, Queen of the Scene.

Last year, I almost ran smack into the tallest guy I’d ever seen outside of the NBA… who just happened to be Michael Crichton. You just never know who is going to cross your path.

Dave Barry signing books

This year’s recent BEA was no exception, with plenty of familiar faces descending on the Capital to promote their latest offerings. And in the spirit of First Book’s “Literacy and Justice for All” campaign, many of them cast their votes for literacy… including Roscoe Orman (“Gordon” from Sesame Street), actress and knitting “how-to” author Tracey Ullman, and funnyman-turned-children’s author, Dave Barry (pictured to the right with Ridley Pearson).

Click below to see who else dropped by to cast their vote!

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Posted in Authors & Illustrators, General

Time Lapse Video & Inteview Round-Up

May22
2006 Written by Dave M.

If you haven’t read already, we had an amazing presence at BEA this year. I want to thank everyone, everyone, who helps make First Book such a success at what we do.

I setup a small web cam at our booth this year to try to capture some of the activity that goes into making BEA work. The software I used bogged down after awhile — it starts with one picture every 5 seconds (2.5 minutes per second of video) and slows down to 1 picture every minute or two (causing the video to speed up a bit.) Also, the camera fell over once or twice, so you may notice that it shifts or jumps once or twice.

And in case you missed them, here are some more videos of interviews with chilrdens’ authors that we conducted all weekend long:

Joshua Prince – “I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track”
Kirsten Miller – “Kiki Striker”
Dave McPhail – “When Sheep Sleep”
Michael Buckely – “The Sisters Grimm”
James Patterson – “Maximum Ride”
E.D. Baker – “The Frog Princess”
Walter Dean Myers – “The Harlem Hellfighters”
William Boniface – “The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy”
Erica Perl – “Chicken Bedtime is Really Early”

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Video

The Last Day of BookExpo America

May22
2006 Written by Lynda L.

Even though it was Sunday, the final day of BEA, you could still feel the passion and excitement in the air. It’s a book thing!

Wendy and Tabitha opened the Sunday Book and Author Breakfast by announcing the “Literacy and Justice for All” winning state — Louisiana. They were joined on stage by First Book children (and upcoming stars), Dabney J and Camille H, who opened the winning envelope. Wendy shared the Green Room with Anderson Cooper and other guests for the breakfast and a couple of us were jealous.

Meetings and signings continued throughout the day and lots of exhibitors stopped by to let us know they were contributing leftover books from their booths to First Book. I was told that we would be receiving approximate 1400 “new titles” that have been on display during the exhibition.

At about 2:30 the exodus had begun. It always amazes me how swiftly booth demolition can be done when it takes so long to set it all up. Have no fear, people were still at our table outside of the exhibit hall talking about working with First Book, courtesy of Pat.

The First Book presence has been notable throughout BEA and it is so exciting and different from my four previous experiences. Everything was well-planned and precisely executed. Kudos to Team BEA — everyone who helped at BEA as well as those of you behind the scenes at the office.

A job well done Team!

Photos from BookExpo America

May21
2006 Written by Clarissa P.

BookExpo 2006

BookExpo 2006

First Book staff

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Interview with Author Erica Perl

May21
2006 Written by Rachael V.

Author Erica Perl stopped by the First Book booth to sign copies of her books, Ninety-Three in My Family (out soon) and Chicken Bedtime Is Really Early. She gave a great interview afterwards – while she was wearing a chicken hat!

Be sure to check out the beginning where she reads from her book, Chicken Bedtime Is Really Early…

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Video

Literacy & Justice for All Winner is Louisiana!

May21
2006 Written by Rachael V.

Our staff cheered as we finished the final vote tallies late last night! First Book could not be more excited that all y’all who voted chose to support our Book Relief initiative by choosing Louisiana as the state where we will hold the next 50,000 book distribution!

The 50,000 books will be sent to a donated warehouse in Louisiana and then organizations from across the state will be able to apply for books online — enabling them to choose the best titles for their programs. Our staff will meet volunteers at the warehouse and then sort through all of the books, getting them ready for our recipient groups.

Literacy & Justice for All Winner!First Book is serving schools, nonprofit organizations, school libraries, community government organizations, and other local programs to help rebuild libraries that were destroyed along the Coast.

Thanks to everyone who voted — and especially to BookExpo America for supporting our efforts! You have truly helped us bring Literacy and Justice to all!!

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