The First Book Program

With the support of Senator Crapo, First Book has recently secured a two-year U.S. Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Education grant to provide new books to children in need throughout Idaho.

Literacy is a primary building block for a successful education. When children know how to read with confidence, it opens so many doors for them in education.  Senator Crapo partnered with the national First Book program and Scholastic Books in an effort to put books into the hands of students who may not have the resources to own their own books. By providing books to children who might otherwise not have that opportunity, First Book creates an invitation to read more.  So far, books have been distributed to children in Twin Falls, Jerome, Filer, Gooding, and so many others communities in the Magic Valley as well as Coeur d'Alene, Boise, Nampa, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello. The first event hosted by Senator Crapo took place in June 2003 in Twin Falls, with 100,000 books going to more than four dozen organizations statewide.

Since 1992, First Book has provided an ongoing supply of books to children participating in existing community-based mentoring, tutoring, and family literacy programs across the country. First Book has provided 30 million new books to children in need in hundreds of communities nationwide.

Now, First Book is strengthening its volunteer Advisory Board network and putting more books into the hands of children from low-income families throughout Idaho.

Advisory Boards in Idaho

First Book Advisory Boards serve their communities by providing brand-new, high-quality books to children from low-income families by identifying the most effective community-based literacy programs reaching children in need and providing them with grants of free books. Programs are able to chose titles from publisher catalogs and then give the books to participating children to take home and keep.

First Book is pleased to announce that, with the support of this grant, new Advisory Boards in Idaho will receive between 1,000 - 5,000 free Scholastic Community Starter Books and $8,000 in book grant funds before June 30, 2005.

Currently, there are 6 Advisory Boards in Idaho:

• Boise State University
• Bonneville County
• Franklin County
• Mountain Home
• Northern Idaho (Bonner & Boundary Counties)
• Post Falls (Kootenai and Benewah Counties)
• Southeast Idaho (Pocatello)
• Treasure Valley

Recent Activities

• August 2004, held initial state-wide First Book training at Boise State University

• October 2004, kicked-off grant with First Book National Book Bank distribution of 25,000 books in Boise

• March 2005, visit to existing and potential First Book Advisory Boards in the Treasure Valley, Mountain Home, Twin Falls, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Sun Valley

What Can You Do to Help?

• Start or join a First Book Advisory Board in your community
• Serve as an honorary member of your community's Advisory Board
• Spread the word to bring First Book throughout Idaho
• Make a donation to help reach more children in need

For More Information about the First Book program, please contact Elizabeth Matthews at (866)393-1222 ext. 112 or ematthews@firstbook.org.