While researching literacy charities, I was instantly drawn to First Book because it's blurb began with, "Do you remember your first book?" Uh heck yeah, Corduroy by Don Freeman ftw? I remember I even toted around a Corduroy bear and begged to take him to preschool (some days I won, many days he stayed home napping and searching for cool buttons). It even fueled a button obsession when I was 4, and I probably collected around 200 random buttons. My mom sewed a blanket of buttons for my Corduroy (I still have the blanket, but sadly not the bear, though I probably will purchase another one once I have children of my own eventually). I do now own a snazzy first edition hardcover that ended up costing me more in shipping from the UK than the actual book, but it is a small price to pay for an amazing book.
First Book addresses the immense scarcity of age-appropriate books in inner-city preschools and after-care programs. In First Book's own words
By providing new books to children in preschools and after-school programs, mentoring and tutoring programs, shelters and day care centers and beyond, First Book provides resources to empower teachers and administrators. With access to high-quality books, educational materials and more, these caring leaders can better teach, plan curriculum and impart a love of learning, elevating the quality of the programs and opportunities available to children in need.In the 20 years First Book has existed, they have delivered more than 70 MILLION books to children all over the United States and Canada, and a majority of the children have expressed a greater love of reading after First Book's work in their program. Many of the teachers and program administrators (a whopping 98%) have stated that their program has been doing much better because of First Book's impact.
I know I sometimes take for granted how easy it is for me to get books. When I have money, I spend a considerable amount on amassing my own library, which is why I probably have a backlog of about 30 books that I already own that I want to read...and that's not even counting books I will begin purchasing as I make a dent in my list or books I could check out from my local library. With the prominence of eReaders and companies like Amazon and eBay, it is easy to get books at an affordable price. And with the holiday season, many of us will get books or money or giftcards that we will use on books. Or, for the cost of shipping, many of us do the Book Swap on GoodReads (I am currently waiting for my first 2 swapped books to arrive!). But for a 4 year old in a poverty-stricken community? Nearly impossible.
There are many, many ways to help First Books. For every $2 you donate, First Book is able to buy a brand new book for a child (so for what we usually spend at McDonald's, we can buy at the very least 3 NEW books). You can also join or start an Advisory Board in your neighborhood, which allows you to locally fundraise for programs in need in your own community, or start your own fundraising page on their Books For Kids, Books for Keeps site. While First Book only accepts book donations from publishers, you can turn in your old books to a partner online bookseller, Better World Books, which in turn sells your old book and uses that money to purchase new books. They also have a store that donates a portion of your purchase (it is different for each item) to First Books, and they also work with other organizations' stores that will donate a portion of your purchase back to First Book (my personal favorite is What Book Got You Hooked?).
Also, for any snazzy New Yorkers, they will be having their 3rd Annual Book Bash at the Waldorf-Astoria on December 10. If I still lived in the city, I would definitely be there. 1. It is for an awesome cause, 2. It is an AMAZING location, 3. there are cocktails (which pretty much guarantees I will go anywhere). I hope at some point I will be able to go to an event with other philanthropic, bookish people, but I shall settle for the Miami Book Fair this weekend. But if you're in NYC and have $150 to spare, I know how important books are to all of us, and First Book is an amazing organization!
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