First Book

10/08/2026

🎉 Story Showdown is back!

First Book and One Word at a Time are bringing another round of book-themed fun to students nationwide.

Join host Erin Entrada Kelly as acclaimed authors Donna Barba Higuera, Randy Ribay, and Cicely Lewis face off in book-inspired challenges and share stories behind their work.

Designed for students ages 9-14, Story Showdown is FREE to watch live or on demand through the First Book Community Platform.

Register today: https://bit.ly/4yD4DEs

10/06/2026

📚 This , First Book is joining Penguin Random House to and help protect the right to read!

Through this collection of banned and challenged books, we're celebrating stories and giving readers meaningful ways to take action.

Visit the link to take action. For every visit to the campaign site until October 27, 2026, Penguin Random House will donate one banned book to First Book, up to 10,000 copies!

Together, we can help keep stories within reach and protect every reader's freedom to choose what they read: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/banned-books/

10/05/2026

Join the Star Wars Reads adventure!

In celebration of Star Wars Reads Month this October, our friends at Disney Publishing are inspiring readers to explore galaxies far, far away and closer to home through books and engaging activities.

We're excited to once again collaborate with Disney Publishing to offer:

🚀 A $100 gift certificate to shop for books and resources on the First Book Marketplace to the first 500 eligible First Book members to sign up

🚀 A downloadable Star Wars Reads Educator Toolkit to all educators

Help spark imagination, storytelling, and the joy of reading among the kids you serve.

👉 Learn more and sign up today: https://bit.ly/3VRzcrg

Disney Books

Disney is supporting First Book in providing books to educators and students in low-income communities. Together, Disney and First Book have donated tens of millions of books, empowering over 600,000 educators.

09/29/2026

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with stories that reflect the rich experiences of Latine communities! 📖

First Book's Latine Characters & Cultures collection features titles for all ages and interests, centering the experiences and voices of Latine people. Find new favorites to share with your readers this month and all year long!

Browse the collection today on the First Book Marketplace: https://bit.ly/4hD9G0p

09/26/2026

Through Time for Change, a global initiative led by First Book, Ashoka, and Teach For All with the support of Audemars Piguet, under the guidance of the Audemars Piguet Foundations, educators and students in six countries across the world are embracing their role as changemakers, empowering students to lead, collaborate, and create positive change in their communities.

The impact speaks for itself with:
✨ 250,000 educators reached
✨ 7.6 million students supported

In Nigeria, teacher-led changemaker clubs are supporting students to develop leadership, empathy, collaboration, and problem-solving skills by tackling real challenges in their schools and communities—from clean water and climate solutions to literacy and collective action. First Book played a key role in developing the resources for educators and students that our partners and are using to bring this work to life around the globe.

Watch the video to discover how students in Nigeria are turning challenges into opportunities for change: https://youtu.be/R3EtcS5nL-8?si=QEsTwPXLDzGyrvUf

What happens when students are trusted to lead?In this classroom ...

09/24/2026

On September 30, every in-store purchase at participating Kendra Scott locations can help support First Book's mission to get books and resources to kids in low-income communities. Proceeds will support First Book through the Kendra Scott Foundation.

If you're shopping in-store, be sure to mention First Book!

Together, we can help put more books into the hands of kids who need them most. 📚💛

09/24/2026

⏰ Don’t miss this free virtual event for educators!

On October 29, join the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for Investigating Artifacts: Uncovering Personal Stories from the Holocaust.

Learn how historians examine letters, photographs, and other artifacts to reconstruct and preserve personal experiences for generations to come.

👉 Reserve your spot today: ushmm.org/2026falleventfb

09/23/2026

📚 Join us for Open Books, Open Minds: A Celebration of Reading & Literacy tomorrow, September 24!

This free virtual event brings together authors, educators, librarians, and literacy leaders to explore the power of reading and its impact on young learners.

Join First Book's Lou Willey for "For Keeps: Building Home Libraries One Program at a Time," where panelists will share how they help children build home libraries, foster a love of reading, and create programs that put books into the hands of kids and families.

Register now: https://vshow.on24.com/vshow/LIT2026/registration/21443

School Library Journal Library Journal The Horn Book

09/22/2026

Fat Bear Week is here! 🐻

To join in the bear-themed fun, we're spotlighting Otis Knows (How to Be a Bear) by Frank Murnik, illustrated by Rachel Suzanne.

This sweet story follows Otis as he learns what it means to be a bear, inspired by the real story of an Alaskan brown bear who rose to stardom during Fat Bear Week.

📚 Explore the title on the First Book Marketplace: https://bit.ly/4hpEKR5

09/18/2026

THANK YOU, dd's! 🎉

Together, we exceeded the goal! Because of the generosity of dd's DISCOUNTS customers and Associates, plus a $100,000 match from Ross Stores Foundation, this year's fundraising campaign raised an incredible $1,106,375, making it our largest dd’s fundraising campaign to date! These funds will support First Book's mission of removing barriers to education for children in low-income communities.

We are deeply grateful to our friends at dd's DISCOUNTS for their longstanding partnership and commitment to helping kids access the books, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Thank you to everyone who donated and made this year's campaign such a success! 💙