First Book's strength comes from its donors and volunteers. In each community it serves, First Book has an Advisory Board of volunteers committed to bringing new books to children in need. Today, we'll get to know First Book-Denver Metro Advisory Board Member Terry Strobel. 

Photo by ugaldew

Name: Terry Strobel

Employer: Stay-at-home Mom 

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Favorite Children's Book: Yertle the Turtle

Favorite Author: Dr. Seuss

Why Do you Volunteer with First Book:  I volunteer with First Book because I believe that the hard work we do helps children value reading.  Nothing's better than a having a favorite book when you are a kid!  I love being a part of that mission. 

Get to Know the Advisory Board: Terri Smith

First Book's strength comes from its donors and volunteers. In each community it serves, First Book has an Advisory Board of volunteers committed to bringing new books to children in need. Today, we'll get to know the First Book-Denver Metro Advisory Board Member Terri Smith.  

Name: Terri Smith       

Employer: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Hometown: Denver, CO

What is your favorite children's book? 
The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I love Eric Carle’s simple collage Illustrations.

Who is your favorite author?  
Jane Austin, but this is always a tough question because I have a hard time picking favorites.

Why do you volunteer with First Book?  
To make a positive impact on the community, and I think literacy is an important cause to support. I love to read and I hope that the kids we help will also be able to become avid readers.

YouTube Tuesday: First Book in other cities

See how First Book and the power of reading can impact a community. Newark Mayor Cory Booker tells how the organization has made a difference in his city.

The success of First Book would not be possible without the help of our local and national partners. Recently, JetBlue and First Book celebrated JetBlue's entry into the Detroit market by supporting literacy in the community. Watch their story above. To support First Book in Colorado, click here.

Powerful Pages

First Book's success is due in part to partnerships with other organizations and businesses. This video demonstrates how this cooperation can impact the lives of children.

To learn how your business can help First Book-Denver Metro bring books to children in need, contact us at DenverMetro@FirstBook.org.

Do you know about Denver Book Exchange? The NW Book Exchange takes place Saturday, March 15 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Oriental Theater in Denver. 

Here's how it works:

• 2:30 - 3:00pm: Drop off your books and receive one ticket per book donated.
• 3:00 – 4:30pm: "Shop" the book exchange and get one book per ticket.

It's just that easy!

Types of Books to Bring:

• Spanish & English
• Fiction and non-fiction
• Paperback and hardback
• Children's books (all ages)
• Gently used books only please
• Pretty please, no magazines or catalogs

There will be a storytime, plus snacks for the kids. Best of all, one book per household will be donated to Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and other local charities! This event is sponsored by some great local organizations, including our friends at Book Bar, Sour Grapes Design Studio, and Web501.

The Oriental Theater is located at
4335 W 44th Ave
Denver, CO 80212

For more information, email info@denverbookexchange.com or visit http://denverbookexchange.com/. 

There are lifelong effects when you help children learn to love reading. But we can see those effects in the short term as well. This video offers one theory about why students don't read what's assigned in class, and suggests that perhaps allowing students to choose their reading material will encourage them to read more. What do you think? Should students be allowed to choose what to read for school instead of assigning them to read "the classics"? Leave your comments below!