Penguin Random House Donates 750,000 Books To First Book, Fueling Efforts To Support Children In Need Affected By The Coronavirus

NEW YORK, April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Penguin Random House, as part of READ TOGETHER, BE TOGETHER (#ReadTogetherBeTogether), a movement launched by the U.S. children's divisions of Penguin Random House, Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children's Books, in partnership with Meredith Corporation's PARENTS, has donated 750,000 books to First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to equal access to quality education. The donation was made to meet the urgent need expressed by educators coping with school closures as a result of COVID-19.

More than 6,000 educators in the First Book Network, who are still working to serve kids in need, have made urgent requests for books, both to help students continue learning, but also to provide a needed sense of normalcy. First Book has been raising funds to cover the cost of shipping the desperately needed books and resources to programs and schools serving kids in need. The books donated by Penguin Random House will be deployed to programs and schools that are currently delivering books, food, and supplies to our youngest citizens who are isolated and locked out of a learning environment.

More than 300 of Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children's Books brand books that kids love will be donated, including LLAMA LLAMA GIVES THANKS by Anna Dewdney, CHOMP by Carl Hiaasen, BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys, and THE CAT IN THE HAT SONGBOOK by Dr. Seuss. In addition to the book donation, Penguin Random House is also covering the cost of shipping the books to First Book, valued at $25,000.

"We would not be in a position to make such a powerful impact on children in need without the support of our amazing partners at Penguin Random House," said Kyle Zimmer, president, CEO and co-founder of First Book. "This generous donation is so meaningful. Books super-charge learning for kids in need, who are particularly vulnerable right now. When schools closed, these kids lost a place that was not only providing education, but so many different forms of critical support. These beautiful new books make it possible to provide tremendous support for kids who need it, while also encouraging a love of reading. Not a day goes by that we aren't grateful to Penguin Random House for their ongoing support."

Madeline McIntosh, CEO of Penguin Random House U.S., said, "It is a privilege to again join with First Book to help bring our authors' and illustrators' works to children and communities in need. We know that books have the power to connect and sustain us, particularly in challenging times, and we want to do all we can to directly reach children and ensure we are developing lifelong readers."

Originally set to launch in summer 2020 with nationwide retail, educator and consumer activations, the READ TOGETHER, BE TOGETHER program began on March 23^rd with a series of daily virtual story times with bestselling and award-winning authors and illustrators, and celebrity readers as a response to COVID-19 school closures. The full READ TOGETHER, BE TOGETHER campaign will be announced early this summer, and will include specially priced exclusive editions of child-and-parent favorite titles that will be available at retailers throughout the country. Weekly event schedules can be found at readtogetherbetogether.com. 

First Book and Penguin Random House are long-standing partners, united by the mission to help children everywhere access books and educational materials regardless of their socioeconomic situation. Last year, Penguin Random House joined with Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to announce that the company would donate an additional 300,000 children's books to First Book, building upon its previously announced donation of one million of its children's books to First Book in the Obama family's name. Plans for the 1 million-book donation were originally announced in 2017 when Penguin Random House acquired world publication rights to publish books by President and Mrs. Obama.

Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission of nourishing a universal passion for reading by connecting authors and their writing with readers everywhere. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children's fiction and nonfiction print and digital English-  German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 15,000 new titles, and more than 600 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House's publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world's most widely read authors.

The PARENTS brand, the leading source for busy, millennial moms, reaches 9.3 million readers monthly through an award-winning magazine and over 19 million through its digital and social platforms. PARENTS serves up trusted advice that empowers moms and dads to care for their kids with confidence and find ways to enjoy the ride. PARENTS is produced by Meredith Corporation.

About First Book

Founded in Washington, D.C., in 1992 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is a leader in the educational equity field. Over its nearly 30-year history, First Book has distributed more than 200 million books and educational resources, with a value of more than $2 billion. First Book believes education offers children in need the best path out of poverty. First Book breaks down barriers to quality education by providing its network of more than 475,000 registered teachers, librarians, after school program leaders, and others serving children in need with millions of free and affordable new, high-quality books, educational resources, and basic needs items through the award-winning First Book Marketplace nonprofit eCommerce site. The First Book Network comprises the largest and fastest-growing community of formal and informal educators serving children in need.

First Book also expands the breadth and depth of the education field through a family of social enterprises, including First Book Research & Insights, its proprietary research initiative, and the First Book Accelerator, which brings best-in-class research to the classroom via relevant, usable educator resources. First Book Impact Funds target support to areas of particular need, such as rural communities or increasing diversity in children's books.

For more information, visit firstbook.org or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

Contacts:

Claire von Schilling
EVP, Director, Corporate Communications & Social Responsibility
Penguin Random House
[email protected] / 212-782-9876

Melanie Boyer
Senior Director of Communications, First Book
[email protected] / 202-639-0115

SOURCE First Book

Related Links

http://www.firstbook.org