Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has donated one million new books to the First Book National Book Bank, which will then distribute them to children.
First Book, a nonprofit organization, was created to give low-income families their first new children's books. According to First Book, 61% of families at or below the poverty level have no books for children in their homes. First Book works with existing literacy programs to distribute the books; in the past few years almost 15 million new children's books have been given out nationwide.
Rick Richter, president of S&S Children's Publishing, said the company is happy to "give these books to the children who need them most," adding, "The First Book National Book Bank helps us reach out to communities across the country."
