First Book and Blue Star Families to Distribute 35,000 Free Books During Big Book Giveaway on April 11 at National University in San Diego

The STEAM Book Family Festival is free and open to teachers from Title I schools and the families they serve, and to military families.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON (April 6) – The national nonprofit First Book and Blue Star Families are inviting military families, teachers from San Diego-area Title I schools and the families they serve to a STEAM Book Family Festival on Sat., April 11 at National University, 9388 Lightwave Avenue in San Diego. Families will be able to choose from 35,000 free STEAM books (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), with titles for all ages, and enjoy hands-on family activities. The free event will be held in the main entrance of National University.

Event Details:

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Open to Educators from Title I Schools – Early Entrance
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Open to Military Families and Families with Children in Title I Schools

In addition to selecting free books, families from San Diego-area Title I schools will have the opportunity to engage in a host of family-friendly activities. Participating organizations include Independent Therapy Dogs, Children’s Discovery Museum, SeaWorld, and others.

Educators from Title I schools will also have the opportunity to become a member of First Book, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for children ages 0-18 in under-resourced communities. Membership in First Book is free and provides teachers and other adults who work or volunteer with children in low-income communities with access to a wide range of professionally curated books at 50-90% off retail, educational resources and programming, and ongoing support. Since its founding in 1992, First Book has distributed more than 250 million books and resources worth more than $2 billion. In a 2025 Impact survey, 97% of respondents indicated that First Book inspires a love of reading among the kids they serve; and 95% indicated that First Book enables them to foster a culture of reading in children’s homes.

About First Book

Education transforms lives. First Book is building a world where every child has access to a quality education. It works to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in need. At the heart of its work are the 600,000+ members of the First Book Network, the largest online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting children living in low-income communities across North America. This Network is the key to creating lasting change. Through its research arm, First Book Research & Insights, it conducts studies that aggregate the voices of the Network to identify challenges, needs, and solutions. To address their needs, it provides free and low-cost books, resources and access to leading experts through the First Book Marketplace, which uses aggregated buying power to support their work. Founded in Washington, D.C. in 1992 as a nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is dedicated to eliminating barriers to learning and inspiring young minds. Learn more at