We are celebrating all things READING during Read Across America Week (Feb 28 - Mar 6, 2022) with our friends at The Hop Ice Cream!

Check out our top 5 ice cream-inspired tips for celebrating reading every day!

THIS WEEK ONLY!
(Feb 28 - Mar 6, 2022)

Make a purchase in The Hop’s online store and a portion of proceeds will go directly to community-powered literacy programming at R2S. Pints, ice cream cakes, merchandise, and more - don’t miss this unique opportunity to support a great local literacy organization and get your hands on delicious ice cream!

TIP 1: EXPLORE NEW FLAVORS!

Do you enjoy trying new flavors of ice cream? The Hop Ice Cream has you covered with Cardacoco Latte, King Cake, Royal Cherry Cheesecake Crumble, Punk’s Not Dead (Pumpkin), Girl Scout Thin Mint, Lavender Vanilla, Unicorn Poop (wildberry with Nerds candy), and more!

Similarly, it’s always a fun idea to explore a variety of book genres. Outside of incredible picture books, both fiction and nonfiction, unique genres of children’s books include:

• Kid-friendly mysteries
• Fantasy fiction
• Children’s poetry
• Great biographies
• Animal books
• Science fiction
  
• Collections or box sets, i.e., Magic Tree House, Tristan Strong, Harry Potter, etc.

No matter what type of book your child reads, thoughtful comprehension questions play an important role in deepening their experience and understanding of the text. Check out this free reading comprehension guide from Read to Succeed with suggestions for fiction and nonfiction.

TIP 2: TRY NEW TOPPINGS!

Toppings are not just a great way to jazz up her favorite scoop or two; they also create a brand new experience with your sweet treat.

Try fun extension activities to extend your child’s experience with a book! Extension activities might look like a craft, writing exercise, a field trip, etc. Some go-to expert ideas include:

• Beginning, middle, end - write and draw what you heard/read in the beginning, middle, and end of a story.
• Create new endings for stories - if you were the main character in the story, what would you have done the same or differently?
• Create your own illustrations for the story - re-read and draw along!
• Explore questions and outcomes - if you could speak with the author of this story, what would you ask? What would you want to tell them?
• Make connections in the text:
  • Text-to-text (Does this remind you of another book you’ve read? What are some similarities and/or differences?)
  • Text-to-self (How do you see yourself in this story? Have you shared an experience you can relate to this story?)
  • Text-to-world (Is there anything you see in this story that you can connect to your real world?)
  • Field trip the topic (Was your book about nature? Go outside and explore with a nature walk! Did your book highlight creativity and art? Visit a culturally-responsive art gallery in town. You get the idea!)

Discover more inspiration for extension activities on Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), Education.com, and Reading Rockets.

We are also big fans of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) Student Center Activities, which offer hundreds of printable phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary activities kids love!

TIP 3: TRY A NEW VESSEL

Prefer a cup to a cone? No worries! No matter how you serve it, reading can always be meaningful, engaging, and fun. Some of our favorite ways to eat up our favorite books include:

• Physical books - check out one of Buncombe County Libraries’ 13 branches across the county for free access to not just books but movies, music, e-books, family programming, historical records, and more.
  
  Did you know? All Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools students can use their Student ID number to access and borrow public library books and resources! Learn more

• Audio Books - listening to stories helps build oral comprehension skills and exposes children to new words (helpful for growing vocabulary). Access free audio books through your local library or online apps like Audible, Libby, Hoopla, and Google Play.
  
  
• E-books - this modern medium found its heyday during the COVID pandemic as many families turned to online reading resources for remote learning. Not only can you find free e-books through the NC Digital Kids Library, but free eBooks through Kobo, Epic,
  
  *Don’t miss Free Online Reading Resources
  
  
• Reading apps - reading and early literacy apps like Duolingo ABC and Star Fall make it easy to practice essential early literacy skills on-the-go or during designated screen time. Often gamified and targeted to specific skills practice, reading apps are
  
  *Don’t miss 8 Great Free Reading Apps for Kids

TIP 4: MIX IT UP!

Sundaes, shakes, ice cream cakes - there are lots of ways to incorporate ice cream into a new and exciting treat. Find unique and creative ways to infuse everyday family activities with elements of reading and writing.

• Make grocery lists together
• Write snail mail for family and friends and go to the post office together
• Play games with reading elements (i.e., Pokemon Go, Exploding Kittens, Scrabble Jr., etc)
• Read recipes and cook together
• Read road signs, maps, and license plates when on the road
  
  *Don’t miss 15 Fun Ways to Weave Reading Into Family Time

TIP 5: GO BACK TO A FAVORITE AUTHOR!

Is The Hop your family’s go-to ice cream maker in Asheville? Ours too!

Similar to trying lots of offerings from The Hop (hello, Monday Milkshakes!), you might find a fabulous author with lots of children’s and YA books under their belt. Some of our favorites include:

• Derrick Barnes: Crown, Ode to the Fresh Cut, King of Kindergarten, I Am Every Good Thing, Ruby and the Booker Boys
• Vanessa Brantley Newton: Grandma’s Purse, Becoming Vanessa, Just Like Me, Let Freedom Sing, Don’t Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table
• Jp Miller: Black Stories Matter Series, Leaders Like Us Series, Careers in the Military
• Kwame Mbalia: Tristan Strong (trilogy), Black Boy Joy (17 stories celebrating Black boyhood), and The Last Gate of the Emperor duology
• Jacqueline Woodson: The Day You Begin, This Is the Rope, Each Kindness, Pecan Pie Baby, We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past, and more!

BONUS PICK: "Always With You, Always With Me" by Kelly Rowland and Jessica McKay, illustrated by Fanny Liem"

Follow Mommy and Child throughout the days of the week, picking up on magic traces of one another as they stay connected no matter where they are. 

Listen to a live read-aloud from co-author Kelly Rowland HERE.