Serve kids in need? Learn about free First Book membership and eligibility
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Serve kids in need? Learn about free First Book membership and eligibility
New to First Book?
Join us to connect with thousands of fellow educators and access exciting educational events and resources for you and your students.
Feeling safe and supported is deeply connected to children’s ability to learn. At First Book, we work closely with educators serving children from low-income communities many of whom are navigating experiences that would be difficult for most adults.
In our 2025 Research & Insights Impact Survey, 80% of educators stated that their students are experiencing extreme trauma and/or stress as well as mental health challenges (such as depression or anxiety). 84% also stated that the challenges their students face contribute to decreased academic performance.
This is why First Book continues to connect educators with trusted resources and practical strategies to support student mental health both in and out of the classroom.
To support educators in this work, First Book offers resources designed to help students feel supported academically and emotionally.
Created in partnership with the Kids Mental Health Foundation, this guide focuses on practical ways educators can foster inclusive, welcoming classrooms.
The guide connects everyday academic instruction and everyday practices directly to student well-being, showing how empathy is foundational to mental health.
Our most downloaded resource offers strategies to help educators support students’ emotional well-being through routine and structure, healthy habits, relationship building, and social-emotional learning practices.
Educators can find real-world approaches to supporting students in this guide.
Every child deserves access to not only books and resources, but also to environments that support their well-being.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re thanking the educators, librarians, and program leaders who are creating safe spaces for students to learn, even in the face of challenges.
Educators can join First Book’s Network — the largest online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting children in need across North America — to bring new books, educational resources, and supplies to their classroom or program.
