First Book announces new 27-member coalition, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to advance diverse, affordable children’s books for all

First Book leads new coalition, supported with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to advance diverse, affordable children’s books?

I have exciting news:?First Book is leading a new coalition of 27 nonprofit and member organizations to address an issue that has impeded children’s literacy for decades: the lack of high-quality, affordable children’s books by and about diverse races and cultures. To further educational and racial equity, the Diverse Books for All Coalition, which includes many of the nation’s largest nonprofits that distribute books to children, will leverage the power of aggregate buying and other strategies to influence the availability and pricing of diverse children’s books. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded First Book with a $1 million, 18-month grant to support the initiative.

The Diverse Books for All Coalition?is developing a plan for collective action designed to double the number of affordable, quality children’s books by and about diverse cultures and races over the next five years. In addition to aggregate buying, the group is focused on:

1. unifying the market of nonprofits and membership organizations serving children in low-income communities;?
2. framing a narrative to promote the importance of diverse books;?
3. providing educators with support and resources to advocate for diverse books; and?
4. ensuring that parents/caregivers have a voice in defining and promoting diverse books.?

See this great story about the coalition in?Publishers Weekly. This coalition aligns with one of First Book’s core principles: collaboration is highest hope of the social sector. Our shared belief in the power of education will fuel unprecedented systemic change. Collaboration is the cornerstone for all of First Book - and why First Book aggregates the voice, knowledge, insights and purchasing power of hundreds of thousands of educators working in low-income communities across the country.?

We are inspired by the dedication and commitment of all of the founding members of the Diverse Books for All Coalition:?First Book, American Academy of Pediatrics-CA3, Book Harvest, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Heart of America, Home Grown, Jumpstart, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Black Child Development Institute, ParentChild+, Parents as Teachers, Raising a Reader, Reach Out and Read, Inc., Reach Out and Read Greater New York, Reach Out and Read Rhode Island, Read On Arizona, Reading Is Fundamental, Room to Read, Save the Children, Start Early, The American Federation of Teachers, The Leaders Readers Network, The Patterson Foundation, Too Small to Fail, UnidosUS, We Need Diverse Books, and Zero to Three.?

Please join us in celebrating this exciting and significant collaboration as we launch this initiative.?

With gratitude,

Kyle

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