First Book

First Book President and CEO Kyle Zimmer founded First Book with Peter Gold and Elizabeth Arky in 1992 to be a market-driven solution to the lack of books in the schools and programs serving children from under-resourced neighborhoods. First Book has grown to serve more than 550,000 educators working in Title I or Title I-eligible programs.[2]

The First Book Marketplace is First Book's eCommerce site that provides First Book’s network of educators, librarians, providers, and others serving children in need with thousands of free and affordable brand-new books, educational resources, and basic needs items. The First Book Marketplace is designed to address the barriers to education and attendance for kids in need from early childhood to age 18. It is available to educators and program leaders serving Title I or Title I-eligible schools and programs.[2]

The First Book Network refers to the 550,000+ educators who access resources on the First Book Marketplace. Anyone serving Title I or Title I-eligible schools and programs is eligible to join the network, including out-of-school programs, faith-based organizations, shelters, clinics, libraries, museums, military family support programs, and early childhood programs.

First Book Research & Insights conducts ongoing research to amplify the voices of Network members regarding their needs and concerns. Educator insights drive our models, the resources we provide, and the partnerships we create; they also benefit the public, private, and social sectors, enabling them to inform the design and refinement of programs, products, and strategies, increasing resource effectiveness and adoption rates.

In response to educator-identified issues through First Book Research & Insights, First Book collaborates with experts to translate evidence-based strategies into bilingual resources (tip sheets, videos, webinars, toolkits) that are expedited to practitioners. These resources, created and refined with educator input, are often paired with curated book collections. Accelerator resources address cultural diversity, social and emotional learning, childhood trauma, grief and loss, essential life skills, family engagement, and other educator-requested topics.

Kyle Zimmer has been honored as a DC Alpha Alumna Initiate of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women (2019), the Texas AFT’s Child Advocate Award (2019) and EY Entrepreneur of the Year® 2017 Award-Mid-Atlantic Region. Other awards include the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefitting the Disadvantaged (2016), Peggy Charren/Free to Be You and Me Award from the Ms. Foundation for Women (2016), the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Pacesetter Honors (2016), the Library of Congress David M. Rubenstein Prize (2015), the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award (2014) and the National Education Association Foundation’s Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education (2013), the Carle Honors Angel Award (2009) and the Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community (2005). From 2004 – 2008, Fast Company named Kyle one of 45 Social Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World. The organization has been reviewed favorably by Charity Navigator and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance as a trustworthy institution.