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Well-known holidays like Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving mark November, but did you know that November is National Family Caregivers Month too? Data from the National Alliance for Caregiving shows that more than 65 million Americans serve as family caregivers for family members with an illness or disability.

Check out this essential round-up of 8 Black children’s books celebrating, appreciating, and highlighting family caregivers.

This book allows us to visit many different families and shows us how different family dynamics can look. From Mommy, Daddy, Aunt, or Granny, "Who Takes Care of You?" shows appreciation towards all the different caretakers in a child's life.

​When Alvina’s parents go away on Holiday, Alvina’s 2 grandma’s move in to take care of her. What seemed like an amazing idea at first, quickly takes a turn for the worse when Granny Vero, who is from the Caribbean, and Granny Rose, who is from England, vie for the chance to be in charge. My Two Grannies teaches us the importance of accepting and celebrating our differences while showing us just how diverse one family can be.

​What: Holiday Book Drive
When: October 29 - December 9, 2023
Where: Barnes & Noble Biltmore Town Square
(33 Town Square Blvd #100, Asheville, NC 28803)

Love a good book? So do we! Help R2S in promoting literacy and encouraging reading this holiday season by visiting Barnes and Nobles(Biltmore Town Square) and purchasing *new* culturally-responsive children's books to be donated to our literacy programs.

How to Shop and Support R2S
It's easy! When you check out, the staff member working at the register will ask you if you would like to purchase a book(s) to be donated to R2S - you let them know how many books, and they take care of the rest!

Holiday Book Fair
​Date: Saturday, Dec. 9th, 2023
When: 11AM-6PM

Shop for holiday gifts and use the voucher below to make sure a portion of your purchase goes to R2S' community-powered literacy programming.
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It's easy! Click the flyer with the barcode attached below, print, and present it at checkout at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, Dec. 9th!







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​R2S distributes thousands of books each year at family reading carnivals, community events, in seasonal book bundles, directly to schools and partners, and much more!

Special thanks to Barnes and Nobles for helping make this possible for the third year in a row. We appreciate their continued partnership and dedication to supporting students in Asheville and Buncombe County!

We are thrilled to welcome Deniese Yelverton to the R2S team for the 2023-2024 school year. As our new Duke NC LiteracyCorps member, Deniese will support all of R2S' community-powered literacy programs, including early childhood, elementary tutoring, and community/family engagement.

Learn a little bit more about Deniese in our fun Q&A below:

What role has reading played in your life?
I read everyday, so I’d have to say that it’s played quite a large role. On a serious note, though, I think that reading allowed me to dream a little bit bigger. Of course, I must give credit to my family for this too; reading definitely opened another door of possibilities for me.

There’s a series by the name of The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes. It’s by Anne Mazer. In one of the books, the main character, Abby, gets a chance to go to Paris one summer. I remember reading that book and being so determined to go to Paris one day. I can remember the desire to want to see the Eiffel Tower and wanting to go see all of the cafes that are lined up on the street. I think that reading helped me to find my interest.

What was your favorite book as a child? What is your favorite book now (if it changed!)
I’m only 21, so I wasn’t a child that long ago, but my favorite books to read when I was little were the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osbourne. I remember when my 2nd-grade teacher first introduced the books to me. The whole concept of finding a magical treehouse that could send you back to any period in time was so fascinating to me.

I think my taste in books has grown to be a bit more refined, but not by too much because I still enjoy a good adventure/fantasy novel, which are themes that can still be seen in my current favorite book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Now, The Alchemist is already a very popular book that has sort of a mixed bag of reviews, so I definitely don’t want to be a part of the group that overhypes it in the case that you haven’t gotten to read it yet, but I think that it’s an amazing book to read if you need motivation or you need a reminder to do/try whatever speaks to your heart.

What are you most looking forward to at R2S?
I find questions like this particularly hard to answer because I feel like there are many layers to it. If you want a short answer, I can say that I love working with little kids. It’s what I’m familiar with, and it’s something that I’ve been doing since I was at least 14 years old, so being able to not only work with them again but to be able to help them begin how to do something that will carry them throughout life is amazing.

On the other hand, though, as cliche as it might sound, I’m just looking forward to everything. Having the opportunity to be able to grow and learn with the amazing staff at R2S, I think that my professional development in the next year will be substantial.

Where does your passion come from?
My desire to help people. I’ve always liked helping people and finding ways to be of use to others. Whether that’s through merely giving advice or through more direct ways, I can’t say that I particularly have a preference so long as the outcome is the same. I do have a soft spot for children, though, because they’re constantly learning so much, not just in school settings, but about themselves and how to handle various new emotions and environments.

I think that oftentimes people forget about how many new things kids are being tasked to figure out/cope with, so if I’m able to do anything to alleviate any type of stress on them or if I can find a way to make something that seems strenuous a little more fun for them then I’d love to do that. All kids deserve the right to a fun and supportive environment that enables them to grow.

Give us a glimpse at your life off the clock?
My life off the clock, in all honesty, might be a little boring. I like making small things with clay, like trinket dishes and mini animal sculptures, but I’m trying to branch out to make bigger things. I’ve recently started trying to get into pottery, so I’ve been looking around at different classes, but we’ll see how that goes. I feel like the rest of my time is spent planning trips because I love traveling. I probably have at least six different google documents that are just full of itineraries. I’m currently planning a trip in February to a ski resort because I’ve always wanted to go snowboarding. Truthfully, I’ve actually always wanted to go surfing, but snowboarding will do for now.

I like going on walks. I moved recently, and I happened to move into an area that has a nice 5-mile trail. Now, will I walk the 5 miles in its entirety? Probably not, but I can still probably be found walking the trail at some point because I love being outside. Aside from that, you can definitely find me sitting on my couch and watching a good Kdrama.

What are some of your favorite things about Asheville?
I hate to sound like the average person, but I must say that I have thoroughly been enjoying the mountains. My mom and I have been planning to drive through the entirety of the Blue Ridge mountains for the past year now, but so far, we’ve only managed to make it halfway through. We either get deterred by the sheer length of the trek, or we just pull over at one of the lookouts and have a picnic.

Something else that I like about Asheville that might be a little less stereotypical is the diversity here. I’m from a rural town on the eastern side of NC, so there’s not that much diversity at all. From what I’d previously heard about Asheville, I was expecting the same thing, but to my surprise, this is actually a relatively diverse city, and I love that. The botanical gardens are also something that I enjoy. I love botanical gardens and greenery so much. The arboretum here is so beautiful. As a lover of bonsais, the bonsai section in the arboretum alone makes me giddy.

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Meet Ashley Allen | Read 2 Succeed's New Co-Executive Director

Don't miss these awesome fall events happening in and around Asheville in September and October! You'll find Read 2 Succeed sharing free children's books, family reading resources, and fun activities at many of these events AND we could use volunteers!

Read below to learn more about when and where to attend and how to sign up to pitch in!

What: The Festival of Neighborhoods
When: Saturday, September 30, 10 AM - 4 PM
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Park (50 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Asheville 28801)

Admission to the event is free, and everyone is welcome!

All of Asheville is invited to gather for a day filled with neighborly interaction, learning, and fun for the whole family at Festival of Neighborhoods. This event is aimed at bringing together neighbors from all corners of Asheville with the primary goal of strengthening the bond between residents, neighborhood associations, and local organizations to create a harmonious and thriving community.

Highlights of the event include: Connecting Communities; Entertainment and Activities; Local Services and Neighborhood Resilience Building.

Want to volunteer with R2S? Email volunteer@r2sasheville.org about helping out with this event!

What: Community Reparations Summit
When: Saturday, October 7, 10 AM - 3 PM
Where: UNC Asheville Sherrill Center, 227 Campus Drive, Asheville 28804

Parking and admission are free, but attendance is limited and registration is required.

Since March of 2022, the Community Reparations Commission has been working to establish short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations for consideration by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Government. On Saturday, Oct. 7, a Community Reparations Summit will be held, providing an opportunity for the public to hear directly from the impact focus areas of criminal justice, economic development, education, housing, and health and wellness and provide feedback on their draft recommendations.

The event will also feature keynote speaker George Fatheree, who helped return $20 million to the descendants of the owners of Bruce’s Beach, a popular California waterfront property, after it was wrongly taken from them in the 1920s.

What: Thomas Wolfe 8K
When: Saturday, October 14, 8 AM - race start time
Where: Downtown Asheville/Montford

The Thomas Wolfe 8K helps support Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe!

This beautiful autumn run/walk highlights many of Asheville’s favorite sites. Start at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial House in the center of downtown, run through the historic Montford neighborhood and continue past Wolfe’s final resting place in the Riverside Cemetery.

Volunteer as a course marshal and earn a donation for R2S, it's easy! Sign up HERE.

What: Christine W. Avery Learning Center (CWA) Fall Festival
When: Saturday, October 14, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Park (50 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Asheville 28801)

CWA’s 2nd annual fall festival is free for everyone!

There will be food trucks, vendors, bounce houses, games, arts and crafts, entertainment and more!

CWA strives to enhance the state of marginalized communities by equipping, empowering, and energizing the next generation of socially conscious leaders. They fulfill their vision by providing academic, social, cultural, spiritual, and civic development to disadvantaged families in Western North Carolina through Early Learning, Pre-K, After-school and Summer programming.

Want to volunteer with R2S? Email volunteer@r2sasheville.org about helping out with this event!

Do you have a soccer player at home? Love watching the World Cup with your family? Then don't miss these incredible children's and YA books about soccer all featuring Black and brown characters.

Goodnight Soccer by Michael Dahl

Dive into this engaging board book featuring lyrical rhymes and vibrant art. One little girl joins her family to watch two women's soccer teams compete and says goodnight at the end to all the wonderful parts of her day. Covering extensive soccer vocabulary and capturing the excitement of watching a live game in a stadium, this children's book is a sure to be a fan favorite!

Watch a live read-aloud on YouTube.

Kick It, Mo! by David A. Adler, illustrated by Sam Ricks
A goal-worthy member of the Mo book series by David Adler, "Kick It, Mo!" offers a fun look at young boy on game day and all the ways he works with his team to help win the game. Mo is smaller than a lot of the other players and experiences some set backs, but ultimately he is determined to keep going.

Watch a live read-aloud on YouTube.

Soccer Shootout by Jake Maddox, illustrated by Sean Tiffany

Jake Maddox's sports stories are kid favorites and "Soccer Shootout" is no exception. In this chapter book, follow Berk, goalie for the Titans, as he navigates new roles and friendships both on and off the field. Explore deeper comprehension as a reader and learn the fundamentals of different soccer positions

Soccer Switch by Brandon Terrell, art by Aburtov (Jake Maddox Graphic Novels)

This exciting graphic novel follows the mighty Bobcats soccer team as they start their season with a brand new coach who has an odd way of doing things. From blind fold drills to oven mitts and beyond, young players have to figure out how to show up for themselves and their team as the season heats up.

The Field by Baptiste Paul, pictures by Jacqueline Alcántara

This stunning children's book shares so much about the spirit and cultural voice soccer (futbol) brings to communities around the world. Written in English and Creole (as spoken in the author's birthplace of Saint Lucia), "The Field" explores as much through its gorgeous illustrations as it does its text.

Watch a live read-aloud on YouTube.

The Academy by T.Z. Layton

Follow 12-year-old Leo as he follows his dreams of becoming a pro soccer player after being discovered by a scout in his small hometown in Ohio. From first-time plane rides to a new country to bullies, roommates, and his own personal fears, Leo must work hard and discover who he is to become the player he knows he can be.

Booked by Kwame Alexander

A one-of-a-kind YA novel, "Booked" takes readers into the world of soccer-obsessed tween Nick Hall–entirely in verse. This heartfelt story follows the electric ups and downs of Nick's life as a boy, a teammate, a student, a son, and more. Don't miss it!

The Read 2 Succeed family could not be more excited to welcome Ashley Allen as our new Co-Executive Director! Learn more about Ashley’s background and how she came to R2S in our latest press release<link>, and don’t miss a fun Q&A with her below.

What role has reading played in your life?
As cliche as it is, reading has given me access to a thousand lived experiences in one lifetime. I’m so thankful for every opportunity to immerse myself in stories - real and imagined. I’ve been able to learn about different subject areas, expand my understanding and expertise, and also hear different perspectives. I don’t believe any of this would have been possible without books.

What was your favorite book as a child? What is your favorite book now (if it changed!)
I’ve never had a favorite book. I love something about everything I read, from poems to the dictionary. I especially love books that deal with morally grey characters, the sort of characterization where the reader has to grapple with the right and wrong and in-betweens of how the plot unfolds. And even though I love reading, selecting one favorite book is a Herculean task I still don’t feel ready for. I can share that, to this day, there has only been one book I’ve reread - Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

What are you most looking forward to at R2S?
During my decade with the public school system, I always found myself wanting more. More time to sit with students and discuss ideas and connections to the texts we read; more time with families to demonstrate easy at-home literacy support; more time to build systems that support learning in and out of the classroom.

Coming on board with Read 2 Succeed, I feel like I finally have an opportunity to grasp that more. And to do it under the banner of an organization that lives its values and mission? It’s a humbling experience. I’m looking forward to co-creating experiences that positively impact learners that look like me.

Where does your passion come from?
Growing up, I was an energetic and brilliant student in a rural school system in Alabama. History class taught that the Civil War was about state rights, confederate flags were worn daily by my peers, and no one believed I was in the right place when I showed up for my AP classes.

I loved learning and excelled on tests, but as soon as I would take my eyes off the pages of my work, I was met with judgment. I felt judged by my peers in terms of how I should act and judged by my teachers, who were quicker to send me to detention than the honor roll. After a while, I stopped looking forward to school or engaging in lessons.

That could've been the end of my story. Fortunately, I came across a select few who saw what I was capable of and spoke life back into me. I’m eternally grateful to those few and I think all my passion for this work comes from those experiences.

I never want another Black child to feel like they’re the problem because they’re repeatedly bombarded with biased narratives. And the idea that I could be lucky enough to be a voice cheering that child on in the face of those biased narratives, motivates me more than I can express.

Give us a glimpse at your life off the clock.
When I’m not at the R2S office or with one of our community partners, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two dogs - usually cuddled on the couch watching tv. I’m a mentor with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, so I spend a lot of free time playing Pokemon Go and roller skating in the park with my Little. I also love reading, playing D&D, and working on diamond art.

What is one of your favorite things to do in Asheville/favorite aspect of Asheville?
My favorite thing about Asheville is that other passionate, creative people find their homes here. We have so many amazing local shops like Bee Charmer, Noir Collective AVL, and Herbiary AVL. Visiting these places, you can just tell an individual found something they loved and decided to share it with their community.

I love to explore those places in Asheville - whether it’s stationary, drinks, or food- where the evidence of other folks’ passion is on display like that.

Support your child or student in building confidence, determination, and self-esteem with these incredible Black children's books!

I Am Enough by Grace Byers, illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo
The purpose of this book is to teach kids that they are perfect the way they are regardless of one’s abilities, culture, looks and to recognize diversity and respect for one another.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

Mistakes Are How I Learn by Kiara Wilson, illustrations by Kentura A.Bobo, Balzer 
This book teaches emotional social needs and helps you understand that everyone makes mistakes, we all learn from them but also helps us as individuals with perseverance.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here.

I Will Be Fierce  by Bea Birdsong, illustrations by Nidhi Chanani
This book with pictures talks about strength, self-esteem, courage, and encouraging words on how each person is fierce in their own way.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

Mary Can  By Mary J. Blidge,  illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats Award Winner Ashleigh Corrin
This book is letting you know that you can do anything you put your mind to.  No matter how hard it gets, keep trying and you are bound to be successful at it.  She tells a story about how she never gave up and wants females in general to understand YOU CAN do anything you put your mind to. 

​Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

I am Courage/Book of Resilience  by Susan Verde,  illustrations by  Peter H. Reynolds
This book teach kids how to stay courageous and believe in their inner strength.  To know that they are smart in everything they do.  

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

.You Can Do It  by Tony Dungy,  illustrations by Amy June Bates
This book talks about encouragement.   Want kids to know  they can do anything they put their mind too.  That no matter the situation, never give up on trying.  Most importantly, to have self motivation.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here.

The Boy Who Never Gave Up  by Anthony Curcio, illustrations by Anthony Curcio
This book is about a professional NBA basketball player named Stephen Curry, who plays for Golden State.  It tells you a story about how he was in highschool and was the weakest person on the high school basketball team but he kept trying because he wanted to be the best.  Now he is one of the best NBA basketball players today because he never gave up!

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

You are Important   by Todd Snow,  illustrations by Melodee Strong
This book helps kids know they are important and they matter.  The children today is our future and it speaks about how important you are as an individual while communicating and helping others.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here.

Because I am Me  by Ericka J. Gibson, illustrations on November 30, 2020
This book was designed to let children know that they have brown skin, that you are who you are and that you are beautiful. Helps build up self esteem and positive affirmation.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

I can Do Hard things  By Gabi Garcia,   illustrations by Charity Russell
This book help confirm what you already know.  Affirmation on esteem and how to overcome different challenges that may come your way.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

Planting Peace/The story of Wangari Maathai   by Gwendolyn Hooks,   illustrations by Margaux Caarpentier
The first Black woman who won the Nobel Peace Prize.  This encouraging story speaks on women’s rights as activists and the first environmental warriors who conquered a movement by planting trees in Kenya in the 1960’s.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

Little Legends/ Exceptional men in Black History  by Vashti Harrison, illustrations by November 19, 2019
This nonfiction book is about true stories of black men in history. You will hear about several activists, artists, pop stars, athletics. 
​
Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

I Choose To Try Again/Story of perseverance and diligence.  by Elizabeth Estrada
This book teaches young ones how to keep going and to never give up when things get too hard. They need to know and understand that you learn from your mistakes so they can help you grow fierce in any situation.

Watch a live read-aloud of this book here. 

Reading with your child is one of the best ways to explore social emotional learning. Keep these general comprehension questions in mind when reading with your child, and check out our featured list of social emotional children's books featuring Black main characters below.

• Look at how the characters' facial expressions change throughout the story . . . how do you think she feels?
  • What makes you think that?
  • What part of the story told you that?
  • Where can we find that in the story?
    
• Ask questions about "feeling words" as they appear in the story. Ask your child to make a matching face; for example, "Show me your ______ face”.
• Ask your child to think of a time they were happy, sad, worried, etc. Did something similar happen in the story? Or something different that caused them to feel the same way?

1. Jabari Jumps, written and illustrated by Gaia Cornwall
He's good at jumping, so he's not scared at all. But when his father takes his hand, Jabari pushes back. Either way, he'll need to figure out what specialty jumps to do and he'll need to stretch before climbing the diving board. Cornwall captures the moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined boy who can't help but cheer in a sweet and charming tale of overcoming fear.

What a live read-aloud of 'Jabari Jumps' read by Sheryl Lee Ralph

2. Allie All Along, written by Sarah Lynne Reul
Have you ever felt mad enough to stomp around and turn red? Allie has! With the understanding of her big brother, Allie uses different tools to shed her strong, angry emotion and calm down bit by bit.

Watch a live read-aloud of Allie All Along by Sarah Lynne Reul

3. B Is For Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings, written by Melissa Boyd
An inclusive, unique, and fun ABC book, B is for Breathe highlights many tools children can use to process big emotions while recognizing letters. Eye-catching illustrations and easy strategies to cope with fussy and frustrating feelings, B is for Breathe is a great go-to book for kids to take a moment to soothe themselves.

Watch a live read-aloud of B Is for Breathe here.

4. My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood, written by Tameka Fryer Brown
Jamie uses color and rhythmic text to capture the mood of the day as he transitions from a "loose green vibe" when he's drawing to his sister to a "gloomy black vibe" when he's teased. What does it take to get Jamie back in the mood? Jamie teaches young readers to explain their emotions in a unique way.

Watch a live read-aloud of My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood

5. Ruby Finds a Worry, written by Tom Percival
Ruby is a cheerful, curious and imaginative girl. But one day she discovers something unexpected. She is worried It's not a big concern at first. But everyday it got bigger and bigger, and eventually her worries grew and she could only think about it. But when Ruby befriends a young boy, she learns that everyone has trouble, and that there are great ways to get rid of it. . . She just needs to share her feelings.

Watch a live read-aloud of Ruby Finds a Worry

Incorporate multi-sensory activities into your exploration of social emotional learning with these fun ideas:

1. Retelling Feelings Dance - Makeup dance moves to show moods during a read-aloud. For example, in "Allie All Along," Allie is raging RED once she breaks her crayon. An angry dance is stomping around and clenched fists!

2. Picture Reading Faces - Skim through magazines or picture books and have young readers point out different illustrations of faces with strong emotions. Talk about these emotions together, what do they feel and look like in real life.

3. Building Feelings Vocabulary Survey - Download a free printable feelings vocabulary survey to use with your child.

The first full month of spring offers a bright and vibrant time to grow a love of reading with children of all ages. Don't miss these five fun ideas for celebrating reading and literacy in April!

1. National Library Week (Apr 23 - 29, 2023)
Embrace your love of libraries and all the amazing things they offer communities during National Library Week!

• Thank a librarian in person, with a handwritten card, you name it.
  
• Visit your local library to check out books, attend community events, and more.
  
• Donate gently used books to your local library and stock up a Little Free Library in your community
  

2. National Poetry Month
Explore the rich, vibrant, lyrical joy that is poetry during National Poetry Month!

• Visit ReadingRockets.org to catch a video interview series with top children's poets
  
• Check out the Favorite Poem Project to watch videos of Americans saying poems they love
  
• Read "Change Sings," a diverse children's book by award-winning author and youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, Amanda Gorman.
  

3. April Reading Challenge
Dive into ReadBrightly's April Reading Challenge to "shower your shelf with books" this month!

• Read a book aloud to a plant you want to see grow
  
• Read a book in a voice that sounds like your oldest or youngest relative
  
• Laugh your way through a book of jokes
  
• More ideas here
  

4. National Volunteer Week (Apr 16 - 22, 2023)
Show your appreciation for all the volunteers that support reading and literacy in your community!

• Donate to a literacy organization that supports young readers
  
• Thank a volunteer you know who tutors, reads with students, supports family reading events, pitches in at school, etc.
  

5. National Tell a Story Day (Apr 27, 2023)
Celebrate the art of storytelling during National Tell a Story Day!

• Enhance learning at school and at home with these classroom-friendly stories from The Moth.
  
• Check out StoryCorps, an organization on a mission to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. Listen to stories or record your own!
  
• Explore storytelling apps for kids with this go-to list from Romper. From interactive apps to audio book recorders to storybook creators, the options are plentiful!