FIRST BOOK

Provide new books and help hundreds of thousands of
low-income children discover the magic of reading.

All photos courtesy of First Book.

Who is First Book?

First Book was founded with a simple mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. The First Book Literacy Village model is national in scope and local in impact. By partnering with existing literacy programs in thousands of local communities, First Book has distributed more than 55 million new books to children who, for economic reasons, have little or no access to books.

Why First Book?

Study after study confirms that the single factor that most strongly determines whether a child becomes a reader is access to books. Yet books are virtually nonexistent in the lives of children in need.

In middle-income neighborhoods there is access to an average of 13 books for every child. By comparison, in low-income neighborhoods that ratio drops dramatically to just one book for every 300 children.
Children from low-income families arrive at school with only 30% of the vocabulary of children of average means.

Independent studies of First Book’s model confirm its success.

First Book works for children: The number of young people demonstrating a "high interest in reading" nearly tripled after they received books from First Book. With this interest comes an increase in literacy skills, a new enthusiasm for learning, and a brighter future.
First Book works for the community: The members of the First Book Local Advisory Boards surveyed were overwhelmingly supportive of the efforts in their communities. 98% of them stated that their community was "better off" because of First Book's work.

What can we accomplish together?

To date, the First Book Literacy Village has given books to children in 23,000 community-based programs in the U.S. alone. Your donation will help First Book reach up to 60,000 more literacy programs serving children in need. These programs, which are typically disenfranchised and underserved, will benefit from the access to First Book’s distribution channels for age-appropriate books and educational resources. Your donation will have an even greater impact because First Book will match every dollar it receives from eBay Foundation and the eBay Community with a brand-new book for a child in need.

PROVIDE NEW BOOKS

How can I help?

Donate to First Book with PayPal.
Buy or sell with eBay Giving Works to benefit First Book.
Spread the Word about the Community Gives campaign.

For more hands-on involvement, First Book invites eBay Community members to support its cause by joining a local First Book Advisory Board or volunteering with the National Book Bank. You can also subscribe to the First Book online newsletter to get periodic updates on First Book activities.

To learn more, visit First Book’s website at www.firstbook.org.