Books About Everyone, for Everyone

Book banning is on the rise in the United States. A growing number of communities are trying to take reading choices out of the hands of children and families by declaring some books off limits. At least 220 public school districts imposed bans last school year on more than 4,200 books, according to PEN America. The targets of those bans are often books that feature people of color or people who are not heterosexual or books that deal with difficult subjects like sexual violence and substance abuse.

First Book is an antidote to these bans.

The nonprofit, one of the beneficiaries of The New York Times Communities Fund, operates what is essentially one of the nation’s largest bookstores. It offers a wide range of children’s and young adult books at large discounts — sometimes even free — to educators, child care providers and others who work with children.

In 2022 and 2023, First Book delivered more than 25 million books to communities across the country, including a wide range of titles that might not otherwise be available in those places.

“It’s not just about, for example, Latino authors for Latino kids,” said Kyle Zimmer, a co-founder and the president of the nonprofit, which is based in Washington, D.C. “It’s important — critically important — for people to see themselves and their cultures. But it’s also about every kid being introduced to other cultures.”