 Spring is officially here! This season of renewal and growth offers an engaging time for young readers to learn all about plants, gardening, and taking care of the world around them. Don't miss these 13 children's books with Black protagonists all about gardens! 1. Isabel's House of Butterflies by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Susan Guevara  Eight-year-old Isabel is growing the greatest treasure, an oyamel tree. Every autumn, an amazing transformation happens, turning Isabel’s tree into La casa de las maripositas - The House of Butterflies. Watch a live read-aloud here. 2. Michelle's Garden by Sharee Miller and illustrated by Sharee Miller  Former First Lady Michelle Obama takes an idea, brings it to life, and inspires a nation. Read about how she and others built a big and wonderful garden, in the White House with no prior experience. Watch a live read-aloud here. 3. In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell  Growing food in soil so depleted from years of cotton production had people in rural Alabama struggling to produce. Thanks to the help of Dr. George Washington Carver, some farmers and school children learn how to restore their soil, rediscover the necessary balance of nature, and grow delicious foods for their communities and families. Watch a live read-aloud here. 4. Two Old Potatoes and Me and Me by John Coy and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher  A dad takes two old potatoes that his daughter finds in their cupboard and tries to grow new ones. As these new potatoes emerge, Dad and daughter adjust to a new life together facing change that is not that easy to deal with - divorce. Watch a live read-aloud here. 5. Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw  A book of garden poems inspires Lola to build a garden of her own. After choosing her plants from the library, she and her mom buy seeds to make her garden. They have planted the seeds, now they have to wait for the growth. Watch a live read-aloud here. 6. Jayden's Impossible Garden by Melina Mangal and illustrated by Ken Daley  Jayden is set out to show his mom the nature he sees, in the city. He has the help of his friend Mr. Curtis to plant seeds for a community garden. This garden brings the community, neighbors, and Jayden’s mom together. Watch a live read-aloud here. 7. Marley & the Family Band by Tracey Baptiste, and Cedella Marley and illustrated by Tiffany Rose  Marley comes up with a grand idea to make getting new friends easier for her and her siblings. after a recent move from Jamaica to Delaware. She coordinates an outdoor concert until bad weather disrupts her plans. Read about how her neighbors show up and stand out with their help. Watch a live read-aloud here. 8. My Hair Is a Garden written and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera  Mackenzie is fed up with being taunted by her classmates about her “unruly” hair. She gets help from her neighbor Miss Tillie, who shows her how to care for her care for her beautiful hair. Watch a live read-aloud here. 9. Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery and illustrated by Jesse Hartland  Based on a true story, Tony Hillery works with some restless youth at an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful farm. Years later, with support, thousands of fruits and veggies grow a year. Watch a live read-aloud here. 10. My Carribean Grandma by Sandra Campbell-Notice and illustrated by Anura Srinath  Relive some special moments with Grandma, as she weaves vibrant stories, taking a trip down memory lane in rural Jamaica. Watch a live read-aloud here. 11. Messy Bessey's Garden by Patricia and Frederick McKissack and illustrated by Dana Regan  This book provides fun and engaging ways for young readers to learn problem solving skills and concepts. Messy Bessy learns that with the right care, she can take good care of her garden. Watch a live read-aloud here. 12. I Am Farmer by Baptiste Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon  Explore the true life story of environmentalist Farmer Tantoh who transformed his home country of Cameroon with bountiful gardens and clean water. Watch a live read-aloud here. 13. Garden Day by Candice F. Ransom and illustrated by Erika Meza  On the best day to plant a garden, peas are planted in the backyard. This book has easy rhyming words to enhance the reading experience and give young students phonemic awareness practice. Watch a live read-aloud here. Related posts:
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 Join your Asheville and WNC community to learn more about the literacy crisis and what educators, families, and officials are doing around the country to turn the tide. Free Documentary Screening The Right to Read WHEN: Tuesday, Mar 21 TIME: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Arthur R. Edington Center (133 Livingston St., Asheville 28801) Please click the button below to RSVP and reserve your spot. *Light snacks provided* The Right to Read shares the stories of an activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read.
When a child can’t read, their chances of incarceration, homelessness, and unemployment increase. That's why Oakland-based NAACP activist Kareem Weaver believes literacy is one of the greatest civil rights issues of our time and is fighting for better reading instruction. “What good is winning the right to vote if we can’t even read the ballot?” Fed up with the bleak reading scores in his own community, Kareem files a petition with the Oakland Unified School District demanding change. This free screening is presented by Read to Succeed, UNC Asheville, and Literacy Together, with sponsorship support from Mosaic Realty. NOTE: Additional screenings will be offered at UNC Asheville on Thursday, Apr 13 at 2 PM & 4 PM (The Grotto, Highsmith Student Union). Click the button above to RSVP for all screening options. |
About R2S
Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (R2S) is a local, independent nonprofit on a mission to help close the Archives
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Read to Succeed is on a mission to help close the race-based opportunity gap through community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families, and community partners. |
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Phone: (828) 747-2277 Email: info@r2sasheville.org Physical address: 16A Stewart St. Asheville, NC 28806 (*Note: Our office is located in the Pisgah View Apartments community) Mailing address: PO Box 18652 Asheville, NC 28814 |
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