Robbi and I will be the ones driving the bus and visiting the schools, but our tour would not be possible without the extraordinary people and organizations supporting our adventure.

Let’s start with First Book—a national nonprofit that has devoted the past three decades to providing free and low-cost books and other educational resources to under-resourced students and communities.

Each year, First Book programs and outreach help 5 million low-income children. To date, they have distributed more than 200 million books to students and teachers across the country.

Our friends at First Book are tapping their nationwide network of 500,000 Title I (and Title I-eligible) educators to help us identify schools where our assemblies and book giveaways will make the greatest impact.

A select group of First Book’s members has been invited to apply for a visit. From those applications, Robbi and I will choose (at least) one school in each state, hoping to come up with a list of 50 schools that includes a balance of sizes, demographics, and settings (rural, urban, suburban, etc.).

First Book is also coordinating with our publishers to source and secure the best possible prices for the books we’ll give away (so your donations can buy as many books as possible). They’ll also ship them to the schools we’ll visit.

(Not having to take on these logistics myself makes me so happy I could actually cry and probably will at some point.)

Mostly though, we’re excited to be partnering with First Book because our missions are so aligned—and because their work is such an inspiring proof of concept.

• 87 percent of First Book members reported that students’ interest in reading increased after receiving books.
• 79 percent of member teachers and librarians say that resources from First Book help them be the best educator they can be.

That’s the heart of what we aim to do—engage kids, promote reading, and provide a lift to hard-working educators.
We couldn’t have asked for better partners.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRST BOOK!
www.firstbook.org

And if you’re a Title I educator, it’s easy and FREE to join the First Book network. Visit the First Book Marketplace to sign up and explore exclusive discounts on new books, supplies, educational resources, and other essentials for your students.
www.fbmarketplace.org