Bringing the Joy of Reading to Kids in Need

For nearly two decades, Mary Pope Osborne's Classroom Adventures Program (CAP) has been privileged to partner with First Book, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational resources to children from low-income communities. This enduring collaboration has been instrumental in advancing our shared mission: to ignite a passion for reading and learning among children nationwide.

Mary has always believed in the transformative power of books. Her vision is to inspire children not only to read but to love reading and learning. Many years ago, Mary met Kyle Zimmer, CEO of First Book, and found a kindred spirit also committed to their common goal of getting books into the hands of children who need them most. 

VIDEO: A short while ago, we recorded a conversation between Mary and Kyle about their mutual appreciation for educators. The video is on our homepage or click here: MARY POPE OSBORNE AND KYLE ZIMMER, IN APPRECIATION OF TEACHERS.

Through the Gift of Books grant program, CAP provides Magic Tree House books to Title I educators across the country. Once a grant is awarded, First Book facilitates the process by guiding teachers to register, obtain a certificate number, and order the books through the First Book Marketplace. This streamlined approach ensures that educators have easy access to Magic Tree House books to inspire their students to read and to learn subjects across the curriculum.

First Book's extensive network, with over 600,000 educators and program leaders, amplifies our reach and impact. Their logistical expertise has been invaluable in collaborating on large-scale book distributions, including city-wide giveaways and collaborations with theaters. For instance, during productions of Magic Tree House shows by organizations like Orlando Shakespeare Theater, First Book coordinates with our team and the theater to distribute copies of the corresponding books to Title I schools attending the performances. This initiative allows students to engage with the books and to watch the stories come alive on stage—a truly magical experience!

Beyond individual distributions, First Book has been instrumental in establishing partnerships with organizations such as JetBlue, Boys and Girls Clubs, United Way, the National Education Association (NEA), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). These collaborations have broadened our collective impact, reaching more children and communities. Additionally, Mary and our team set up a Disaster Relief Fund to help address the needs of schools affected by natural disasters and other hardships.

Over the years, Mary and our team's collaboration with First Book has resulted in the distribution of over 1.2 million books to underserved children across the United States. This achievement underscores the profound impact of our partnership with First Book and Mary’s unwavering commitment to get kids to read.

We are deeply grateful for First Book's dedication and support. Their tireless efforts have been essential in bringing the joy of reading to countless children. We encourage everyone to learn more about First Book and support their mission to provide educational resources to children in need.



For a deeper insight into our partnership, we invite you to watch a conversation between Mary Pope Osborne and Kyle Zimmer, available on our homepage. Their discussion offers a heartfelt glimpse into the values and aspirations that drive our collaborative efforts.