Gift Cards Give the gift that gives essential baby items to preschool children in your community. First Library Gift Cards are available in $50.00 & $100.00 denominations. Give the gift of reading with a First Library Gift Card! Donations can be made to a specific community. Checks should be mailed payable to First Library. Funds raised go to pay for new age-appropriate educational toys, supplies and children's c;lothin. Please mail checks to First Library, 4 Old Turnpike Road, Morristown, NJ 07960, Suite 1. Please include your email address, the zip code of the town and denominations of gift cards in the memo section of your check. First Library is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We'll send it to you upon receipt of your donation. GIVE NOW! PROGRAM Mission V alidation Impact First Library® Book List First Library® Application Form First Library ® Registration Form First Library ® Shop © 2012 - 2022 First Librar y® By continuing on this website you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy . GIVE Become a Business Sponsor Create a Fundraising Page Give Financially Sponsor a Child Turn Off and Turn On Volunteer First Library® 4 Old Turnpike Road Morristown, NJ 07960 Suite 1 firstlibrary.org@gmail.com 973-610-8833 CONNECT Contact Us Join Our Mailing List Make a Referral to First Library® Board of Trustees Guest Book & Blog Become a Local Community Representative Local Community Representative Free Book Gifting Chapters First Library® is a 501(c)(3) charity. 46-2001321 All rights reserved. First Library is a registered trademark symbol of First Library, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation

Impact Impact before School* Children under age 6 whose family members read to them 3 days a week: New Jersey - 42% First Library - 75% Impact after School* Five year-olds who performed better than expected/much better than expected: Pre-K First Library graduates - 64% Nonparticipants - 11% Kindergarten First Library graduates - 48% Nonparticipants - 10% Impact in High Risk Homes A 2015 Department of Education, Dollywood Foundation and Parents as Teachers study of children in high risk environments showed a 35% increase in families with 26 or more books in the home 29% increase in children pretending to read books once or more a day 22% increase in family reading books together once or more a day 19% increase in families who own library cards Innovative Approaches to Literacy Results of the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Project Childhood Illiteracy** Fourth grade Below proficient New Jersey - 51% USA - 65% Eighth grade Below proficient New Jersey - 53% USA - 65% WHY FIRST LIBRARY? Children have stronger early reading skills. Children are more prepared for school. Fosters strong speech and vocabulary. Children develop essential life skills. Children begin school with print and book component concepts. Increased parental engagement and reading. Increase in book ownership. Excitement about books and reading. Increase in library patronage. Predictor of future academic success. Fourth grade reading achievement levels - NJ Proficiency in reading by the end of third grade is a crucial marker in a child's educational development. In the early years, learning to read is a critical component of education. But beginning in fourth grade, children use reading to learn other subjects, and therefore, mastery of reading becomes a critical component in their ability to keep up academically. Children who reach fourth grade without being able to read proficiently are more likely to drop out of high school, reducing their earnings potential and chances for success. 22% Below basic 78% At or above basic 51% Below proficient 49% At or above proficient Eighth grade reading achievement levels - NJ 18% Below basic 82% At or above basic 53% Below proficient 47% At or above proficient References * imaginationlibrary.com * * datacenter.kidscount.org

Click Here to Add a Title INFANTS Sassy: Bedtime for Baby I Love My Mommy Because Look at the Animals The Pudgy Book of Mother Goose Where’s Ellie? I Love You, Spot The Pudgy Pat-a-cake Book Baby! Talk! Who says Quack? Baby Sounds ONE YEAR OLDS Corduroy’s Shapes I Love My Daddy Because Little Poems for Tiny Ears Sassy: Baby’s First Words Sassy: Let’s Count Good Night Gorilla Llama, Llama Red Pajama Gold Morning, Farm Friends Animals (Picture Show) The Home Builders Vehicles (Picture Show) TWO YEAR OLDS One Leaf, Two Leaves I Hear a Pickle Baking Day at Grandma’s Little Excavator Just Like My Brother Squeak! Play with Me Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse Sleep Train There’s a Hole in the Log at the Bottom of the Lake Shh! Bears Sleeping THREE YEAR OLDS I Just Want to Say Goodnight Max & the Tagalong Moon Goodnight Numbers The Snowy Day I Wonder My Dog Laughs The Very Hungry Caterpillar Rabbit Listened Daniel’s Good Day The Spiffiest Giant in Town Hair Love Edie is Ever so Helpful Police Officers on Patrol Corduroy Takes a Bow FOUR YEAR OLDS The Ring Bearer Pup & Bear The First Strawberries Bunny’s Book Club Milo’s Hat Trick The Night is Yours Racoon on His Own A Father’s Love The Beach is Loud! Goldilocks and The Three Bears Llama Llama Loves to Read FIVE YEAR OLDS Last Stop on Market Street Tale of Peter Rabbit Blue Sky White Stars Violet the Pilot Fly, Butterfly Daniel Finds a Poem Spend It! Thank you, World My Papi Has a Motorcycle Max Explains Everything: Soccer Expert Carl and the Meaning of Life At the Mountain’s Base Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

2019 Book List (2 points) INFANTS Sassy: Bedtime for Baby Where’s Ellie? I Love You, Spot Baby Sounds Look at the Animals Pudgy Peek-a-Boo Who Says Quack? Pudgy Pat a Cake Pudgy Book of Mother Goose I Love My Mommy Because Baby! Talk! ONE YEAR OLDS Good Night Gorilla Good Morning Farm Friends Clap Your Hands Corduroy’s Shapes When the Elephant Walks I Love My Daddy Because Where is Your Nose? Little Poems for Tiny Ears Road Builders Oliver’s Tree Sassy: Baby’s First Words Sassy: Let’s Count Llama, Llama Red Pajama TWO YEAR OLDS The Bug Book Sleep Train Dog’s Colorful Day Hueys: What’s the Opposite? If I Were a Kangaroo One Leaf, Two Leaves Count with Me I Hear a Pickle Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave Little Excavator I Am A Rainbow There’s a Hole in the Log in the Bottom of the Lake Shh! Bears Sleeping Baking Day at Grandma’s THREE YEAR OLDS Chimpanzees for Tea Max & the Tagalong Moon Silly Goose’s Big Story The Rabbit Listened I Just Want to Say Goodnight With Any Luck I’ll Drive a Truck Goodnight Numbers The Giant Jumparee Edie is Ever So Helpful Philomena’s New Glasses The Very Hungry Caterpillar The Snowy Day FOUR YEAR OLDS Excellent Ed Lion Lessons Pup & Bear Bunny’s Book Club Peace is an Offering The Ring Bearer The First Strawberries Run Wild Otis & the Kittens Ladybug Girl & the Rescue Dogs Llama Llama Loves to Read FIVE YEAR OLDS Last Stop on Market Street Daniel Finds a Poem Violet the Pilot Tale of Peter Rabbit The Gruffalo Blue Sky White Stars Fly Butterfly Hooray, a Piñata Eat Pete Owl Moon Brother Eagle, Sister Sky PREVIOUS YEARS BOOK TITLES

Create a Fundraising Page First Library has partnered with Give Lively (givelively.org) to help supporters fundraise for their community. Text our special code (00001) to First Library’s page @ 443-21 and create a fundraising page for your town.* Personalize it and share it on social media, over email or text. All funds raised stay in your town and benefit local preschool children with the gift of free books monthly. Every $5.00 donation gives a new book to a preschool child in your community. *Please allow up to five minutes for zip code addition. CREATE A FUNRASING PAGE

Guest Book * A valid email address is required to post a message. Your email address will not be published or seen by others. Name* Email Address Message* SUBMIT Guest Book Amy My Great grandson will just love his first ride-on toy. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Continued success with the literacy program. Stephanie Thank you so much for the baby girl clothes, Catherine! I love the outfits and can't wait to put them on my daughter! They are too cute. Words cannot express my gratitude for your helping. It's nice to know there are still helping and caring people. God bless you and your lovely family! Daniele I. Thank you for the winter clothes for our son it is much appreciated! Russell and Michelle Hi, Thank you for the baby bumbo seat. It is perfect for our daughter. We appeciate your help! Michelle and Russell Thank you for the baby bumbo seat. We appreciate your help. This seat will be perfect for our baby girl. We absolutely love it. Danielle Catherine, Thank you so much for my twin daughters newly donated ride on toys! They were thrilled to receive them today, and were so happy to each have their own. I as a mother thank you, for I really enjoyed their giggles as they played. Much thanks! Danielle Danielle Catherine, Thank you so much for the generosity you have shown my twin daughters! They are so thrilled with their newly donated ride on toys! And not only do they love them, but they have their very own each! Thank you again!!! Danielle Alberto C. It was a pleasure dealing with Catherine today. I think what your doing here is great. Its nice to know there are still people that are willing to help those in need. Thanks AL Julie Thank you so much for your contribution to my classroom library! Carol N I appreciate the Donation I received for my son, we are so thankful to have people like you with a great heart around. God Bless You, Nicole Hughston I love this program, what a great thing you're doing. Teaching the importance of Literacy and starting with new parents who may not know how important it is to read to your child. Thank you Sam Keegan Wonderfully helpful and generous people and a great aim to make a practical difference. Katherine M. I'm impressed with the amount of thought you have given to the program. Your mission is important. Wishing you much success. April Baker I appreciate the help I have received and hope to volunteer my time somehow. Thanks! E. Ann M. I like the idea that you are helping first time mothers and their babies while educating them about the importance of reading to them early and consistently. Also it is a great idea that you are promoting healthy and responsible parenting. Rachel Huffington Went to First Library and loved the atmosphere. It was very welcoming and caring. You knew as soon as you walked through the front door that education was top priority. My kids loved it there and I couldn't agree more. The books that First Library send out are very age appropriate. My kids now look forward to me reading to them nightly.

Parent Pledge http://thenounproject.com The Noun Project Icon Template Reminders Strokes Try to keep strokes at 4px Minimum stroke weight is 2px For thicker strokes use even numbers: 6px, 8px etc. Remember to expand strokes before saving as an SVG Size Cannot be wider or taller than 100px (artboard size) Scale your icon to fill as much of the artboard as possible Ungroup If your design has more than one shape, make sure to ungroup Save as Save as .SVG and make sure “Use Artboards” is checked 100px .SVG Thank you registering your first child in the First Library program. A parent pledges is required for participation in the program. Please submit the form for admittance into our program. First Name* Last Name* Email Address* Zip* Child's First Name* Child's Last Name * Child's Birthdate* Child's Gender* Select an option Female Male I pledge this is my first child.* Select an option First child I pledge to read to my child daily.* Select an option Read aloud daily I pledge to visit my local library bimonthly. * Select an option Visit library bimonthly I pledge to provide First Library documentation of my library visit.* Select an option Proof of visit My child's participation may be revoked at any time if proof of my library visits are not provided. * Select an option I accept How did you hear about First Library?* Internet Search Friend/Relative ReadYay! Wee Give Box First Library Imagination Library Blogger American Lifestyle Magazine NJ Family Magazine Kids Guide News Story Patch Local Online News Site Other Comments SEND

Poster Click this text to start editing. This block is a good way to divide sections of your page and add some color to your design. Double-click the image to change the background image. The transparent overlay color can also be changed from the "Settings" icon at the top of the block. 61% of children from low-income neighborhoods have no age appropriate books in their homes. Click this text to start editing. This multi-element block is great for showcasing a particular feature or aspect of your business. It could be a signature product, a picture of your entire staff, an image or your physical location, etc. Double click the image to customize it, edit the text, and choose a call-to-action for you button - what do you want people to do now? Learn More ONE in FOUR children in America grow up without learning how to read. Help First Library make it NONE IN FOUR! Donate Learn More