Posts in category Movies

An Unexpected Journey Meets an Imaginative Fundraiser

Mar07
2013 5 Comments Jason Ambrose Written by Jason Ambrose

First Book works tirelessly throughout the year to provide new, high quality books to students in need.  One of the true pleasures of this work is to know that volunteers, organizations, and communities across the country are working toward the same goal.

Recently, we received a wonderful letter that highlighted the incredible creativity of one such group.

MJR Marketplace DiBag_End_Gandalfgital Cinema 20 in Sterling Heights, Michigan, does an annual movie promotion event to benefit an organization of their choice. This year, the movie theater used its promotion for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey to help bring books to kids through First Book.

During the movie’s opening weekend, several of the theater’s managers and staff created a wonderful display of Bilbo Baggins’ iconic home, Bag End. One employee went above and beyond to dress up as Gandalf the Grey himself and posed in photographs with patrons for a small donation.

As a result of their hard work and imaginative fundraising, the night turned out to be a huge success. They combined the donations from the weekend with the funds from a year-long soda can recycling program to raise a total of $1,384.66 to help put books in the hands of low-income students.

The staff successfully combined the excitement of a fan base for a movie premiere with the hobbit graphiccompassion of their audience to help students across the country. It serves as a high bar for the rest of us and makes us think: what are some creative ways we could help the students in our own communities?

If the tale of The Hobbit has taught us anything, it’s that you can never underestimate the impact of a small band of friends.  In the wise words of Gandalf the Grey: “I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.  Small acts of kindness and love.”  In this case, let’s pretend the ‘darkness’ he is referring to is illiteracy. First Book could not be happier to have such great friends, with innovative ideas, along to way to create a generation of successful readers!

Posted in Books & Reading, Education, First Book Supporters, Literacy, Marketplace - Tagged , , , , , ,

First Book Staff Sees Waiting For “Superman”

Oct14
2010 Written by Kevin L.

Last Thursday, several members of the First Book staff went to see the highly anticipated documentary Waiting for “Superman.” First Book is excited to have worked with Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media on the film. From “An Inconvenient Truth” director Davis Guggenheim, the film is a provocative and cogent examination of the crisis of public education in the United States told through multiple interlocking stories – from a handful of students and their families whose futures hang in the balance, to the educators and reformers trying to find real and lasting solutions within a dysfunctional system. Guggenheim reveals the invisible forces that have held true education reform back for decades.

The viewing itself was powerful – there was definitely some sniffling in the audience, and some moments of both righteous anger and heartwarming hope provided by the moving story that the film told.  And the film was just the beginning – after seeing the film, we gathered around to discuss our impressions, and while each of us took something separate from the issues raised, one thing was abundantly clear – the movie got us talking, got us motivated, and got us thinking about education reform.  Whether you are a parent, work in education, or are simply a citizen concerned about the state of children across the country, the film is a powerful reminder of the need to ensure that we are providing the best possible education at every stage of our children’s lives.

To learn more about Waiting For “Superman” and how you can take action to improve America’s schools please visit: http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/action/

Posted in Around the First Book Office, Literacy - Tagged , ,

First Book/Le Premier Livre is Waiting For “Superman”!

Oct01
2010 Written by Wayne C.

First Book/Le Premier Livre will distribute 25,000 new books to children from low-income communities across Canada if 5,000 people pledge to see the award-winning documentary film Waiting For “Superman” when it opens in theatres in Toronto October 1st. Go to www.WaitingForSuperman.com and pledge today to see the film and help get 25,000 new books to children across Canada!

Posted in First Book Canada - Tagged ,

Odds and Bookends: September 24th, 2010

Sep24
2010 Written by Becky H.

It’s time for the 2010 National Book Festival!

Don’t forget to head to the 10th annual National Book Festival, this Saturday, September 25th in Washington D.C.’s National Mall.  From children’s authors to poets, over 70 authors and thousands of book lovers will attend this event in celebration of the joy of reading. For more details about the festival, including a complete list of attending authors, visit http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/.

TIME Magazine’s What Makes a School Great

Waiting for Superman, a new documentary by the Academy Award winning, David Guggenheim, focuses on the future of the American education system, and what you can do to help ensure every child receives a great education.  Check out TIME Magazine’s most recent article “What Makes a School Great,” to learn more about this documentary and its impact.

Meet Your Match Through Your Favorite Book!

While most dating sites connect people through compatible personality traits and shared interests, allikewise.com, an online dating site, has taken a different approach: connecting people through their book tastes! Check it out at http://alikewise.com/.

More Books, Better Readers, Brighter Futures

Children’s Access to Print Materials and Education-Related Outcomes, a recent study commissioned by Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and conducted by Learning Point Associates, found that increased access to print materials drastically improves student’s reading performance and, encourages elementary school students to read more.  To learn more visit: http://www.rif.org/meta.

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Literacy - Tagged , , ,

Pledge to Make a Difference

Jun10
2010 Written by Mary Beth F.

With the upcoming release of WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” directed by Davis Guggenheim, Participant Media, Paramount Vantage and Walden Media are sparking a national, action-oriented conversation about the current state of public schools in the United States.  Prior to the film’s release this fall, Participant Media is calling upon individuals to pledge to see the film by visiting  http://www.WaitingForSuperman.com.  In support of the “Take the Pledge” campaign, First Book has committed to donating 250,000 new books to schools and programs in low-income communities across the country once the pledge meter reaches 50,000 pledges. When you take that first small step to pledge to see the film,  you are joining with First Book to bring thousands of new books to children who need them most.

Posted in Books & Reading, First Book Events, General, Literacy Links and Articles - Tagged ,

Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland

Mar30
2010 Written by Guest Blogger

The Blog Team didn’t take a field trip to see Tim Burton’s new version of Alice in Wonderland, but being the movie aficionados that we are, we saw it separately. There are some minor spoilers, so if you want to be surprised, don’t read on!

Nisha: Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is no re-working of an old classic as some have assumed. Based entirely on the strange nature of Lewis Carroll’s The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, Burton intended to make his movie more in line with that of a story. He chose the Jabberwocky poem as the basis for Alice’s adventure in the film. Rather than habitual meetings with extraordinary strangers as in Disney’s animated movie, Burton sought to create the feeling of pursuing an adventure in a story.

Tim Burton’s magnificent use of color throughout the film was my personal favorite aspect of the movie. Granted with the help of 3-D glasses, watching the film certainly felt like some sort of odd, twisted dream.  For those fashionistas out there, Alice’s constant change in wardrobe was just one of the many features which keep the audience engaged throughout the movie. Burton’s special attention to details developed the fantasy world of Wonderland into a colorful, confusing and charismatic place.

Aesah: I was excited to see Alice in Wonderland because I loved the book and I have fond memories of watching the original Disney cartoon. What I enjoyed the most about Tim Burton’s take on the story were his characters. Every actor that he selected was perfect for his or her part. Alice, placed by Mia Wasikowska, stood out the most with her earnest and natural performance. In the director’s own words:

“It’s just a simple kind of power to her that we really liked. Not flamboyant, not very showy, but just somebody that’s got a lot of internal life to her. That’s why I picked her.”

Helena Bonham Carter was a close second as the Red Queen and I could tell that she was relishing her turn as a villainess. Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter and Anne Hathaway’s White Queen also held their own. This movie was certainly kept afloat because of the strength of its actors and their characters.

As for the story, I have to admit that I did not enjoy the turn Alice’s adventure took when it became more of an action movie as she found the hero within herself to battle the Jabberwocky.  I would have enjoyed more of her wanderings around ‘Underland’ and her realization that she was the Alice of whom they all spoke. At an hour and a half, it is the perfect length of a children’s movie, but the adults should wait for the director’s cut to get more out of Alice in Wonderland.

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Books & Reading

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