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The Read to Succeed is growing! Our brand new role of Early Literacy Director allows us to dedicate more energy, time, and resources to our early childhood partners supporting children 0-5 with early literacy and kindergarten-readiness skills. We are thrilled to welcome Maggie Fox to the team – learn a little more about her in the fun Q&A below! 
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 Head back to school this year with inspiration and encouragement from fabulous children's books! Whether you're reading them with your kids in the days leading up to school or spending time exploring stories during nightly read alouds after the school year begins, you are sure to love and appreciate this top 10 list of back-to-school children's books with Black main characters.  Lola Goes to School written by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw Lola Goes to School follows one of our favorite series characters going to school for the first time. This sweetly-crafted book with beautiful drawings is a must for rising kindergartners going to school for the first time. Check out this free read aloud on YouTube.  The King of Kindergarten written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton This empowering story will give new kindergartners the confidence and enthusiasm to kick start the new school journey with pride. "The King of Kindergarten" follows a little boy taking on his first day at school, taking in new experiences, and sharing his achievements with his family. Check out a free read aloud here.  The Queen of Kindergarten is an outstanding companion to the award-winning book "The King of Kindergarten". This colorful lyrical children's book features a little girl named MJ and all the special qualities she takes with her to kindergarten, including her friendliness and kindness. Check out a free read aloud here.  Nana Akua Goes to School written by Tricia Elam Walker and illustrated by April Harrison Nana Akua Goes to School is a moving story that celebrates cultural diversity. This story follows a shy girl who brings her West African grandmother, whose face bears traditional tribal markings, to meet her classmates. This is a perfect back to school book for students of all ages. Check out a free read aloud here!  The Day You Begin written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López The Day You Begin is a poignant and heartening book about finding the courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone. Woodson's warm narration reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes, and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway. Check out a free read aloud on YouTube here!  I Got the School Spirit written by Connie Schofield-Morrison and illustrated by Frank Morrison Every child will be excited for the start of school after watching this joyful celebration of the first day! The young protagonist in "I Got the School Spirit" is ready for school now that summer has ended! She can hear the school spirit in the bell ringing in the hallways and the bus heading up the street! She and her friends sing the school song in class! Check out a free read aloud here!  Henry's going to an HBCU written by Kyle McMurtry and illustrated by Jewel Ham This engaging and relevant children's book for elementary students highlights and celebrates historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to inspire future scholars. Check out a free read aloud here.  Layla, the Last Black Unicorn written by Tiffany Haddish and illustrated by Jessica Gibson Layla, the Last Black Unicorn is about an adventurous Unicorn who is sad that summer is coming to an end. She starts school and meets all the challenges of fitting in. Until her class goes on a trip and she saves the day. Check out a free read aloud here!  Fresh Princess written by Denene Millner and illustrated by Gladys Jose This exuberant story based off of Will Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a confidence-boosting story for elementary students. "Fresh Princess" is about a strong-willed girl who approaches everyday with her own kind of style. Until she moves and has to figure out this new neighborhood that isn’t like her own. Check out a free read aloud here!  The Noisy Classroom written by Angela Shanté illustrated by Alison Hawkins A young 3rd grader is about to start school again and she is worried about going into Ms. Johnson’s class, as it has been considered the “noisy class.” This wonderful book helps to calm the nerves to reevaluate what you think might be a scary situation and see how fun it could be.
Check out a free read aloud here!  By: Alyssa Freeman, Read to Succeed Summer Program Intern Looking for fun, creative, and artistic activities to do as a family? Why not give pottery a try? Creating ceramics not only teaches important lessons about history and culture, but it's a seriously fun activity with a beautiful end result that can be put on display, shared as a gift, donated, used at home, you name it! Check out these five wonderful children's books all about creating with clay followed by five pottery-inspired family activities to go with them. 5 Pottery Themed Books "Many Shapes of Clay: A Story of Healing" written and illustrated by Kenesha Sneed This book is filled with social-emotional lessons and dives into the idea of finding yourself through creativity. "Many Shapes of Clay" addresses the topic of grief and how to find beautiful things through it. The main character discovers that healing can be a creative process. Check out this free read aloud of "Many Shapes of Clay" here!  "When Clay Sings" written by Byrd Baylor and illustrated by Tom Bahti A beautiful poetic book that highlights Native American pottery design, "When Clay Sings" shows how you can find inspiration in anything. This book features wonderful illustrations and is an amazing book to read to your kids. Check out this free read aloud of "When Clay Sings" here!  "The Magic of Clay" written and illustrated by Adalucía "The Magic of Clay" is a stunning non-fiction book with tons of facts about clay–from clay's chemical makeup to the process of making it into pottery pieces. A lovely book for any future ceramic artists in the making!  "The Pot That Juan Built" by Nancy Andrews-Goebel "The Pot That Juan Built" is an ingeniously crafted story about premier Mexican potter, Juan Quezada. Using rhyme and rich illustrations, the author tells the story of the materials and methods Juan used to build and paint his beautiful pot. Check out this free read aloud of "The Pot That Juan Built" here!  "Shaped By Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez" by Anna Harber Freeman & Barbara Gonzales and illustrated by Aphelandra A compelling story about renowned Native American potter Maria Martinez, "Shaped By Her Hands" embraces themes of family, creativity, and persistence. Maria developed a brand new firing technique that transformed the field for clay artists. Check out this free read aloud of "Shaped By Her Hands" here! 5 Pottery-Inspired Family Activities Looking for a fun way to start creating with your family? Check out these five fun ideas, and leave a comment with any other ceramics-inspired family activities you love! 1. Visit your local pottery place! Hands-on pottery studios are a fun, hands-on way to spend time together as a family! Swing by Asheville arts staple “Fired Up!” to paint your own pottery to go or swing by “Claying Around LLC” or “Batton Clayworks” for art-infused clay sculpting activities. 2. Make your own clay at home Visit familyeducation.com to learn how to make clay at home with your kiddos! Family Education offers recipes for several varieties of clay and walks you through the process step by step. You can also find several YouTube videos on how to make clay from dirt. 3. Visit a local craft fair Enjoy a day out in your community with your family exploring pottery and ceramics products made by local creatives and makers. Some great craft fairs around Asheville and Buncombe County include Come to Leicester, Big Crafty, and Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. 4. Bring a clay set home Discover fun easy-to-use clay sets for kids at big box vendors like Walmart or Amazon. Not only is modeling clay great for using imagination and fine motor skills, but kids can also practice reading and math with clay. For example, you can encourage kids to create letters of the alphabet with clay, say their sounds, and blend them together into a word. 5. Take a pottery class Discover how to make pottery and ceramics on your own or with your kids via local classes. Check out Village Potters for classes, workshops, and advanced studies, Batton Clayworks, or Odyssey ClayWorks to get started in Western North Carolina. A very special thanks to Read to Succeed sponsor, Table for Two Pottery!  This month we recognize Table for Two Pottery, a long-time supporter of the literacy mission of Read to Succeed.
On August 20-21, 2022 you can find Table for Two among other artists at the Come to Leicester Artist Studio Tour. For more information, visit www.cometoleicester.org  The heat of summer is here, and that means equally cool treats are in order to combat it! July 17th marks National Ice Cream Day, so check out these books to help cool off after a long day out in the sun. Ranging from history to fantasy, you'll find a great read about everything related to ice cream!  “Ice Cream Face” written and illustrated by Heidi Woodward Sheffield This charming book brings you through all of the emotions that accompany waiting for, getting, and eating ice cream! For the main character, a kit who loves ice cream, his day can be a roller coaster of emotions when it comes to his favorite food. He can get impatient, annoyed, and even sad, but ultimately, he ends up deliciously happy!  "Ice Cream Everywhere" by Marjorie Blain Parker and illustrated by Stephanie Roth. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice scream! Discover all the fun and exciting ways and places you can eat ice cream with this early reader favorite. From cones to cups to sloshing and slurping, you'll enjoy a wild ride of ice cream fun with friends in this cool treat of story! Watch a free read aloud here.  “Ice Cream Summer” written by Megan Atwood and illustrated by Natalie Andrewson As the first book in the series Orchard Novel, Sarah, the 11-year-old protagonist, is tasked with spending the summer minding an ice cream stand on her friend’s family orchard. Happy to spend the summer with her friend Lizzie, Sarah runs into a roadblock when Lizzie invites twins Peter and Olive to help them. Sarah was also hoping to get closer to Lizzie over the summer, so the sudden arrival of two other people sparks all sorts of conflict about making friends and keeping old ones.  “Ice Cream: The Full Scoop” written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons Well known for its kid-friendly dive into the history of ice cream, Gail Gibbons gives the perfect insider’s look into how ice cream is made. This book makes for a great way for kids to get into researching the things they love, and can also serve up a good introduction to a classic treat! Watch a live read aloud here.  “7 Days Till Ice Cream” written by Bernardo Feliciano and illustrated by Rayanne Vieira For those older kids who are showing an interest in being a maker, this book ties in problem-solving and computer coding to an already sugary concept! The book follows three friends as they try to figure out how to track the path the ice cream truck takes, and ultimately score some ice cream. As an additional cool bonus, the book has a fun coding-related activity for kids to try.  “The Nice Dream Truck” written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Brigette Barrager
Imagination and dreams abound, this book is a delightful little bedtime story all about the Nice Dream Truck! The Nice Dream Truck drives around night after night, delivering tasty dreams with as many flavors to choose from as there are dreams to be had! Be sure to curl up with this book if you want a sweet and cozy way to end the day. Watch a free read-aloud here. Related blog posts: 5 Ice Cream Inspired Reading Tips & Ideas 11 Children's Books About LOVE Featuring Black Characters 6 Children's Books Celebrating Creativity and Imagination We are thrilled to welcome Jacquelyn Hall as Read to Succeed's new Co-Executive Director! Check out a fun Q&A with Jacque below all about reading!  What is your favorite children’s book?
As a child, I liked Amelia Bedelia. Right now my favorite children's book is "Ada Twist, Scientist." Where is your favorite place to read? Outside in the shade at the beach. If I can’t get there, I’ll settle for my bed. What’s the last thing you read, book or otherwise? "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown. If you could have one author, dead or alive, over for dinner, who would it be? Brené Brown – she is funny, authentic and awe-inspiring. Who inspired your love of reading? My mother. She used to read to my sister and I all the time when we were little. What’s your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? "The Notebook." When is the last time you read to someone else? Last week at the Arthur R. Edington Center summer camp. If you wrote an autobiography, what would it be titled? "Totally Fierce Through Imperfect Faith" What is your favorite genre to read? Self-improvement. What is one of your favorite things to do in Asheville/favorite aspect of Asheville? I love the mountains. I look forward to warm weather to explore nature and visit our mountain waterfalls.  Calling all creative, artistic, and imaginative readers–this book list is for you! We are celebrating creativity in these children's book titles featuring all forms of imaginative art and play. From painting, dancing, sculpting, and even trash picking, these books showcase the power of art in all forms and help us think about how art can be used as a means of connection.  "Sky Color" written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Marisol is excited to be painting a mural for her school library until she realizes there is no blue paint to paint the sky with. What will she do now? Using her imagination and creativity, Marisol envisions endless possibilities of “Sky Color”. Discover "Sky Color" with a free read aloud.  "Many Shapes of Clay; A Story of Healing" written and illustrated by Kenesha Sneed Nadia joins her mother in her creative studio, shadowing her movements and admiring her work. Creativity brings them together to process the joys and challenges of life. Watch a read aloud here.  "What If..." written by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Mike Curato "What if…" What if I can’t draw, paint, or sculpt the world as I wish I could? Then I’ll dance, sing, and imagine everything I want to. This lyrical story celebrates self-expression and all the forms it takes. Watch a read aloud here.  "Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art" written by J. H. Shapiro, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton This biography inspires us to think beyond the conventional avenues of creativity by taking inspiration from what lives with us, is all around us, and needs immediate attention - trash! Tyree Guyton creates magical works of art with the found materials all around him. Watch a read aloud here.  "Hey, Wall; A Story About Art and Community" written by Susan Verde, illustrated by John Parra One small idea sparks a movement as a blank wall brings inspiration to a community. One after another, people make a wall more beautiful by adding their own touches. We’re reminded that walls are not simply dividers or barriers, but a blank canvas ripe with opportunity. Watch a read aloud here.  "Just Like Me" written and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton “Just Like Me” is an ode to those with paint on their hands, dirt on their feet, joyous laughter, and everyone in between. It brings joy to our everyday selves by applauding what makes who we are. Read aloud here.  Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts Ada Twist teaches us about the wonders of experimentation through her trials and tribulations trying to get to the bottom of her many unanswered questions; What is the source of that stinky smell? How do noses smell anything at all? Most importantly, WHY? Ada is constantly asking the question of why, much to her parent’s and teachers’ dismay, in order to better understand the world around her. Check out a free read aloud of Ada Twist here or read an online PDF here. Read to Succeed loves "Ada Twist, Scientist" and created a comprehension guide for children and families to use with the book as they read. These activities can be used with learners as young as Kindergarten by talking through the illustrations in the book and making inferences about what will happen page after page. Older readers who can also create connections about the scientific method, making hypotheses of their own! Andrea Beaty has created a collection of activities to go along with the story and can be found below or on her website along with activities to match her other books here.Ada Twist was such a hit that she got her own show on Netflix! Watch the trailer below. Happy National Volunteer Week Read to Succeed celebrates National Volunteer Week and our many dedicated, compassionate, and committed volunteers! Our organization could not do what we do without the support of highly-motivated individuals who believe in the power of literacy in opening the door to opportunity for all children. Our volunteers build capacity across the board by spending hundreds of hours every year making Read to Succeed literacy programs happen!  Our volunteers (pictured above) are involved a multitude of ways:
 To every volunteer who helps make what we do possible . . . THANK YOU! Your support powers this organization and drives our mission forward.
Find out more about getting involved as a volunteer and subscribe to our newsletter here. 
Read to Succeed is thrilled to celebrate a decade of community-powered literacy programming aimed at helping close the race-based opportunity gap in Asheville and Buncombe County.
Started in 2009 officially by a group of community activists, R2S trained and matched its first tutors with local elementary students in 2010. Our programming has grown from one school to over 12 schools and community partners, and our scope of work has expanded from K-3 tutoring to early childhood support and community/family engagement.
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Read to Succeed PO Box 18652 Asheville, NC 28814 Include "10-Year Celebration" in the memo field. Thank you!
On any given week at R2S you might find volunteer reading tutors working in school and after school with students, R2S staff teaching phonics lessons at the Arthur R. Edington Center and Children First/Communities in Schools Buncombe County Learning Center, family reading newsletters and book bundles being distributed to partners, kindergarten-readiness trainings happening with early childhood teachers, and much more!
Check out the infographic below for key milestones from the past decade including:
A Special Thanks to Our 10th Anniversary Celebration Sponsors
R2S 10-Year Anniversary Infographic
Interested in making a donation to R2S and/or attending our 10-year celebration on May 1st? Click the button below!
 As many Asheville natives have now heard, local Ashevillian, Karly Sindy, has taken the community by storm with her hilarious license plate. The “FART” license plate has withstood some scrutiny in order to become a force for good. At first, a simple gas-inspired idea to make people smile, the “FART” license plate meant exactly what you would think. After public input, however, FART took on new life as an acronym standing for “Friends of Asheville Recreational Trails" – a community for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and “don’t deny the fart activists." Stickers are for sale here with 100% of proceeds benefiting Read to Succeed. (Thank you, Karly!) In the spirit of the “FART” license plate, we’ve compiled a list of children's books highlighting our many bodily functions with practical and humorous ways to talk about them.  "Walter the Farting Dog" by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, illustrated by Audrey Colman Billy and Betty think that their farting dog, Walter, is hilarious and cannot stop laughing whenever he does. Their Father however, is not as entertained until Walter preforms a heroic act that makes him reevaluate his stance. Laugh along to a free read aloud here.  "Everyone Poops" written and illustrated by Taro Gomi Out of all the qualities that relate humans to animals, pooping might be the most obvious. This book describes just that, and reminds us of the simple truth that, “Everyone Poops”. Watch and listen along to a free read aloud here.  "Raj's Rule (For the Bathroom at School)" by Lang Button, illustrated by Hatem Aly Raj has a rule that he never uses the bathroom at school. In order to avoid facing his fear of the school toilets, Raj also avoids anything that may prompt a spontaneous bathroom visit, from playing with his friends to doing school work, he avoids distraction from his goal of making it back home before he has to go. When a sneeze ruins his plans, Raj realizes the school bathrooms aren’t so bad after all. Watch a live read aloud here.  "Even Superheroes Use the Potty" by Sara Crow, illustrated by Adam Record This book is great for young ones starting to learn about good bathroom habits. Its rhyming pages cover hand washing, flushing, and putting the lid down while reminding us that “Superheroes Use the Potty” too. Listen to the rhymes with a free read aloud here.  "Clayton Parker Really Really REALLY has to Pee" by Cinco Paul illustrated by Gladys Jose Clayton Parker is so excited for his school field trip that he forgets to use the bathroom before he gets on the bus. Once they arrive at the zoo, he is faced with the ultimate challenge of holding it while trying to find a place to pee! Listen to a free read aloud here. See More Curated R2S Booklists:
11 Children's Books About Love Featuring Black Characters 10 Books About Moving to a New Place Featuring Black Protagonists 10 STEM-inspire Children's books With Black Protagonists 10 Spring-Inspired Books Featuring Black Characters 8 Winter-Themed Culturally-Responsive Children's Books |
About R2S
Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (R2S) is a local, independent nonprofit on a mission to help close the Archives
August 2022
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Our Mission
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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