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Posts tagged Newark

Will YOUR KIDS Have Books for ‘Read Across America’ Day?

Feb11
2013
Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter
Chandler Arnold, First Book's executive vice-president, with a student from Belmont Runyon Elementary school in Newark, NJ, at a ‘Read Across America’ event last year.

Chandler Arnold, First Book’s executive vice-president, with a student from Belmont Runyon Elementary school in Newark, NJ, at a ‘Read Across America’ event last year.

Read Across America Day is fast approaching; on March 1, children across the country will celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday by reading ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and other childhood favorites.

But, as much as we love Dr. Seuss, the READING part is the important bit. At First Book, we will always line up for cake and ice cream, but books and reading come first. Because kids who read at home become stronger, more capable readers, and that’s the critical ingredient in become successful — in school and in life.

‘Read Across America’ is an annual event sponsored by our friends at the National Education Association (NEA). First Book is proud to do our part for such a critical issue.

Here’s what you can do:

  • If you work with kids from low-income families, sign your program or classroom up with First Book. We can help you get new, high-quality books, including (naturally) ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and other Dr. Seuss favorites.
  • If your program is already signed up with First Book, visit the First Book Marketplace to get some great Dr. Seuss titles for your kids.
  • Take the NEA’s ‘Read Across America’ pledge.

And most importantly of all, take the time to read to a child in your life. You’ll both be glad you did.

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Books & Reading, Education, First Book Partners, Literacy - Tagged #bookstokids, Dr. Seuss, early childhood, First Book, National Education Association, NEA, Read Across America, reading, teachers, The Cat in the Hat

One Cake, Two Cakes, Cat Cake, Hat Cake

Jul02
2012
Erica Perl Written by Erica Perl

CAKE BOSS Buddy Valastro in his First Book hatGuess who has a supporting role in an upcoming episode of CAKE BOSS?  That’s right – First Book!  Newark Mayor Cory Booker and the Cat in the Hat worked alongside CAKE BOSS Buddy Valastro to help bring thousands of books to kids in Newark.  But concocting a culinary confection honoring the good Doctor is no small feat.  Did fur and frosting fly?  Did Cory Booker trade his usual Superman cape for the iconic striped hat?  Tune in to find out!  The episode airs tonight at 9:30 p.m. EST on TLC.

How did First Book end up in such esteemed company?  As regular readers of this blog will recall, First Book participated in a very special Read Across America celebration this March in Newark.  Working with some great local partners (like the Foundation for Newark’s Future, New Jersey After 3, and Anne Feeley), First Book helped the My Very Own Library initiative provide almost 60,000 brand-new books to students at eight Title I public schools in Newark.

In addition to receiving great books that they got to select themselves, the “icing on the cake” for the kids was a visit from Buddy Valastro and the team from Carlo’s bakery.  Buddy talked about Dr. Seuss and the power of reading and imagination before unveiling an amazing, multi-tiered, whirling Dr. Seuss-inspired cake that he and his crew dreamed up and created for the event.

First Book provided 60,000 new books to kids in Newark public schoolsWe think you’ll agree that the final creation was truly amazing.  And from being there to see and taste the final results, we can report that it was delicious.  The best part, though, was seeing the kids’ faces as they sat down with their brand new books and cake.  One child looked so excited we feared he was going to topple over!  Instead, he carefully sat down, took a bite, then opened his book and began to read.

If you’d like to support First Book’s work, volunteer in your community, or sign up your Title I school or local nonprofit to get new books, we’d love to hear from you.

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Book Distributions, Book Recipients, First Book Events, First Book Partners - Tagged Anne Feeley, Buddy Valastro, Cake Boss, Cat in the Hat, Cory Booker, Dr. Seuss, First Book, Foundation for Newark's Future, My Very Own Library, New Jersey, New Jersey After 3, Read Across America

Kids Are Eager to Read: Just Add Books

Mar05
2012
Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

First Book was part of all kinds of great events across the country for Read Across America Day on Friday, including a tremendous partnership in the city of Newark. Working with some great local nonprofits, we were able to provide almost 17,000 brand-new books — including plenty of Dr. Seuss titles, since Read Across America Day is Dr. Seuss’s birthday — to students at eight Title I public schools in Newark.

First Book visits a school in Newark for Read Across America DayWe got to meet lots of amazing kids at Belmont-Runyon Elementary, along with some of the educators and public servants that do so much and put so much of themselves into their work.

“I’m just so happy that our kids in Newark are getting thousands of books,” said Mayor Cory Booker. “Not put in libraries or in schools, but actually put in their hands for them to own.”

As always, the best part was seeing the looks on the children’s faces when they were given new books of their own to keep. You might think it was just the excitement any child feels when they’re being given shiny new things, but almost every one of those kids sat down to open their new Dr. Seuss books and start reading them — right there on the floor.

Most kids from low-income families have no books of their own at home. A new book is more than just a novelty for kids like the ones at Belmont-Runyon Elementary; it’s a rare treasure. To see how eager they are to read, you only need to hand them a book.

First Book brings new books to Newark kids“The kids love getting these books, they’re really excited about it,” said Lois Myers, librarian at Belmont-Runyon Elementary. “They say ‘We get to keep these books!?’”

First Book doesn’t haul a truckload of books up and dump them on the doorstep. We work carefully with local partners to ensure that the books are part of an ongoing effort to transform children’s lives and elevate the quality of their education.

  • The educators at the Newark schools selected quality titles that they knew their kids would respond to.
  • Community groups like New Jersey After 3 and the Foundation for Newark’s Future brought in authors to read to the children and coordinated a school-wide assembly to celebrate books and reading.
  • Anne Feeley, a generous donor (and Newark native) provided funding to help make everything possible through the Foundation for Newark’s Future’s “My Very Own Library” initiative.
  • Local leaders like Mayor Booker made time to spend the day with the children, to entertain them and to let them know they were important.
  • Volunteers and parents decorated the auditorium with a Dr. Seuss theme that would have put professional set designers to shame.

We were proud to be a part of an event like this, and happy to bring the books.

Just like we’d be proud to work with people and organizations anywhere who care about improving the lives of the most vulnerable children in their community. When we all work together, we make big things happen.

If you’d like to support First Book’s work, volunteer in your community, or sign up your Title I school or local nonprofit to get new books, we’d love to hear from you.

Posted in Authors & Illustrators, Book Distributions, Book Recipients, First Book Events, First Book Partners, Volunteers - Tagged Anne Feeley, Belmont-Runyon Elementary, Cory Booker, Dr. Seuss, First Book, Foundation for Newark's Future, Lois Myers, My Very Own Library, New Jersey After 3, Read Across America

Barclays Capital Provides 2,000 More Books to North Star Academy

Apr28
2010
Written by admin

When 25 volunteers from Barclays Capital arrived at North Star Academy Elementary in Newark last Tuesday to share their love of reading with elementary students, little did they know that those students, in return, would share their own fiery passion for learning and their courage to succeed.

As the “Morning Circle” routine began, kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade students chanted about their classroom pride and enthusiasm for math. Next, the Emory Eagles of second grade performed an incredible original song about matter (their current unit of study in science). When the students were finally introduced to the Barclays Capital “superheroes,” who had arrived to read brand new books with them, their young faces lit up with excitement. The scholars of North Star Academy have an unmatched love for reading, and the donation of new books, such as Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells and Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, from Barclays Capital allows these students to take home and enjoy their very own books. READ MORE »

Posted in First Book Events, Philanthropy - Tagged Barclays, Barclays Capital, Bunny Money, financial literacy, North Star Academy

Barclays Donates 2,000 New Books to North Star Academy

Oct28
2009
Written by admin

On Thursday morning, two buses pulled up to North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey and opened their doors to let their passengers enter the school. Instead of elementary school students, volunteers from Barclays Capital poured out of the buses and walked into the building, ready to spend a morning reading with first-grade students and also surprise students with a donation of 2,000 new books: four books for each of the 250 students at North Star to take home, and 1,000 more books to fill the shelves of North Star’s library.

Barclays volunteers read with first-graders at North Star Academy. Each student took home four new books, courtesy of Barclays.

Barclays volunteers read with first-graders at North Star Academy. Each student took home four new books, courtesy of Barclays.

Inside the school, the Barclays team and our First Book team were invited to watch North Star kick off its day at Morning Circle. As soon as it began, we knew that we were in a one-of-a-kind school. Kindergarteners, first-graders, and second-graders took their places in the Circle, performed class chants, cheered about their love for reading and math, and answered quick quiz questions from their principal. The intellect and enthusiasm of the students blew us away, and the incredible devotion of the teachers and staff members was obvious. The North Star students already shine, and with Barclays generously providing more resources to these curious, motivated learners, their futures are brighter still.

Posted in First Book Events, Philanthropy - Tagged Barclays, First Book, North Star Academy, reading

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