A Truckload of Books for Kids in Need

What does a truckload of new books for kids mean to teachers? Watch this video and let them tell you!

First Book President and Co-Founder Kyle Zimmer

Last summer, Kyle Zimmer of First Book addressed The American Federation of Teachers at a conference. Hear her speak about how more schools and community programs can access resources to support education for kids in need.

Youth Media Awards

The Youth Media Awards may not ring a bell, but if you read children's books you've surely see the Caldecott Medal or John Newbery Medal emblazoned on a book cover. Last month, the American Library Association announced the winners of its 2014 Youth Media Awards, which include the esteemed Caldecott and Newbery honors.

Some of the winners include:
** John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:
“Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” written by Kate DiCamillo, is the 2014 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.

** Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“Locomotive,” illustrated by Brian Floca, is the 2014 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Brian Floca and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

** Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:
“P.S. Be Eleven,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

** Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:
“Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Daniel Beaty and published by Little, Brown and Company, Hachette Book Group.

** Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“Niño Wrestles the World,” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner.  The book was written by Yuyi Morales and published by Roaring Brook Press.

** Pura Belpré (Author) Award honoring a Latino writer whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass,” written by Meg Medina, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.

** Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers:
“The Watermelon Seed,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, is the Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Disney Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group.


To read the entire list of winners and honorees, visit http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/01/american-library-association-announces-2014-youth-media-award-winners.

Together, we make this possible...

Here's a look at some of the faces of First Book:

Virtual Book Drives

Looking for a way to fund new books for Colorado students? Why not try a virtual book drive?

Bring brand-new books to kids in need with a First Book Virtual Book Drive.
It’s simple to set up your own unique fundraising page. First Book gives you tools to share your Virtual Book Drive with friends and family and the money you raise will go directly to providing brand-new books to children from low-income families.
You can create a Virtual Book Drive to celebrate a special occasion, like a birthday or anniversary, or to raise money for a specific school or community program -- including the school or program where you work.
- See more at: http://www.firstbook.org/get-involved/virtual-book-drives#sthash.NqUgYwrc.dpuf

First Book makes it easy to set up your virtual book drive. Add photos, tell your program's story, and get the word out! You don't need to be a school administrator to host a book drive. Simply choose a qualifying school or program, create your fundraiser, and invite your community to contribute.

How do we know it's easy? By doing it ourselves! First Book-Denver Metro recently accepted a challenge from First Book-Seattle and hosted its own virtual book drive. The two cities celebrated their Big Game competition and tried to top each other in fundraising. We're proud to announce that First Book-Denver Metro emerged with the most funds raised! It was a great learning experience, and as we grow our community we look forward to doing it again. AndiIf you're looking for a way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, might we suggest hosting book drive to benefit First Book-Denver Metro?

Bring brand-new books to kids in need with a First Book Virtual Book Drive.
It’s simple to set up your own unique fundraising page. First Book gives you tools to share your Virtual Book Drive with friends and family and the money you raise will go directly to providing brand-new books to children from low-income families.
You can create a Virtual Book Drive to celebrate a special occasion, like a birthday or anniversary, or to raise money for a specific school or community program -- including the school or program where you work.
- See more at: http://www.firstbook.org/get-involved/virtual-book-drives#sthash.NqUgYwrc.dpuf

To start your own virtual book drive or to learn more, visit http://www.firstbook.org/get-involved/virtual-book-drives.

Denver the Guilty Dog

The video below might have been recorded in Maryland, but it features a naughty-but-sweet dog named Denver. This clip has been viewed over 32 MILLION times on YouTube, and Denver has become quite a star. She even has her own series of children's books, The Adventures of Denver the Guilty Dog.
 

Do you have a favorite children's book featuring animals? Let us know in the comments.

Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity

Do you know a librarian who deserves to be rewarded? You might consider nominating them for a new grant from the American Library Association (ALA). It's quite a mouthful, but the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity is an exciting new opportunity. Read on for details in the official press release from ALA.

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) Council, at a Tuesday session during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits, approved the new Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity.

The award, which ALA intends to present at its Annual Conference in Las Vegas, recognizes a librarian who “has faced adversity with integrity and dignity intact.” It will be given annually to a deserving librarian. If a suitable candidate is not found, the award will not be presented that year.

The $3,000 prize will be given from Snicket’s “disreputable gains, along with an odd, symbolic object from his private stash, as well as a certificate, which may or may not be suitable for framing.”

Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler, who has written several highly acclaimed children’s books. The books often feature the author appearing as a fictional character, a writer falsely accused of crimes and sought by his enemies as well as the police.
Snicket himself believes that, in much the same spirit, librarians have suffered enough. Therefore, he has established the annual prize honoring a librarian who has overcome adversity.

According to Snicket, it is his hope that, “The Snicket Prize will remind readers everywhere of the joyous importance of librarians and the trouble that is all too frequently unleashed upon them.”
About his sponsorship of the award, Snicket said, "This seems like a better way to channel money to librarians than my previous strategy, which was incurring exorbitant late fees."

Lemony Snicket’s latest book, “File under: 13 Suspicious Incidents,”published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, will be released on April 1, 2014.

The award jury will consist of five people: a chair and four jury members. The members of the jury will consist of ALA members with at least one member from any of the youth divisions (ALSC, AASL, YALSA) and at least one member from the Intellectual Freedom Committee or the Intellectual Freedom Round Table.

The nominee must be a librarian. The deadline for candidates to be nominated for the first year is May 1. In subsequent years, the deadline will be Dec. 1.

The following information must be addressed in the application:

• A narrative describing the adverse incident the librarian faced and a description of their response, result and resources utilized;
• Name and contact information;
• If applicable, name and contact information of the nominator
• Other supporting documentation, if applicable.

To find out more information about the award, including how to nominate candidates, visit www.ala.org/awardsgrants/lemony-snicket.