Come one, come all, to the Summer Reading Carnival!

Join Read to Succeed for spectacular fun at the 2021 Summer Reading Carnivals! You'll find book-themed carnival games, reading activities, a photo booth, temporary tattoos, music, foods, drinks, family literacy resources, and much more! These events are open to all families and children in the summer learning programs in each community.

Friday, July 23; 11am - 2pm
Arthur R. Edington Center

Saturday, July 24; 10am - 1pm
Woodridge Apartments

Tuesday, July 27; 3pm - 6pm
Hillcrest Apartments

Wednesday, July 28; 10am - 2pm
Dearverview Apartments

Special thanks to our community partners who are supporting these events, including Buncombe County Libraries, Literacy Together, Children First (Communities in Schools), and Asheville City Schools PODS.

If you are interested in volunteering at the carnivals to help staff the games/activity booths, please sign up here: bit.ly/r2scarnival

Download, print, and share the flyer

Keep those phonics skills sharp and those reading muscles strong with these fun summer reading ideas! You might just spark excitement for even the most reluctant readers.

1. Swap books with friends, neighbors, or family members.
   New books can excite your child, but they can often be thrown aside and never touched again. To keep the books fresh, try regularly swapping a couple of books with friends or neighbors who have similar reading levels with your child. Leave small notes in the book with a sticky note to give it a personal touch!
   
   
2. Find unique reading material such as magazines, comics, maps, the news, etc.
   Encourage your child to act out performance scripts, read out recipes while cooking or baking, sing along with lyrics, or turn on closed captions while watching videos. All of these ideas involve reading without the physical book that might appear "boring" to some children. Check out our list of 35 Things Kids Can Read That Aren’t Books.
   
   
3. Make a fun weekly reading challenge.
   Instead of establishing goals such as reading one book a week or finishing a chapter every day, spice it up with a reading challenge or game! Creating a reading bingo board, tic-tac-toe board, or another game with unique reading goals can make reading more interesting.
   
   Make challenges like "read something about summer," "read a book from a new author," "read a genre/subject you've never read before", and more. To make it more complex, mix-and-match multiple challenges. And don't miss the Summer Learning Program from Buncombe County Libraries with fabulous summer learning activities, prizes, and more! Click here
   
   
4. Hold a friendly reading competition among friends or siblings.
   Seeing others reading can encourage your child to read as well. Try to set respective and realistic goals suitable for each reader. Remember, every reader is at different levels. Prizes can also make reading fun!
   
   
5. Read in a new location.
   Try heading to the park, the beach, or even your own backyard! Staying inside may make readers too restless to sit down and concentrate on reading. Changing up the reading environment and going somewhere specifically to read can develop an interest for reading.
   
   
6. Decorate a special reading corner or reading area.
   ​If going out to the park everyday sounds unrealistic to you, then try setting up a fun reading area at home! Use holiday or fairy lights, make a pillow fort, use flashlights or reading lights, and prepare some snacks. Make reading a special experience that your child can look forward to! Scholastic gives more ideas on how to make reading enjoyable.
   
   
7. Find audio book versions of the books your child is reading.
   ​Try checking out physical books and audio books from your public library. Hearing someone new read alongside your child can be more engaging and make reading more interesting.
   
   
8. Watch the movie version of books and compare the similarities and differences.
   Reading the book and watching the movie can be wildly different experiences! Reading the book prior to a movie night can help your child read more critically and closely. Family Education offers other everyday ways to make reading appealing.
   
   
9. List all the books your child reads during the summer.
   Having a visual of all the books your child reads can encourage them to keep going! It can be impressive to see all the books on the list as well as motivating to make the list longer. Consider establishing milestone rewards as an incentive.
   
   
10. Set an example for your kids and read alongside them.
    Lastly, it’s important model reading for your child. When children see you read, they embrace a message that reading is important, fun, relaxing, you name it!
    
    

Hopefully these ideas can help you and your child pick up a fun reading routine this summer! 

The English language is based on an alphabetic code that children must learn to unlock to be able to read. Understanding that words are made up of sounds and those sounds can be represented by one or more letters is a basic building block of essential phonics skills.

Multi-sensory phonics activities that help kids practice building words together go a long way to strengthening decoding skills and supporting automatic word recognition. Check out these six fun ways to practice word building with kids!

1. Really Great Reading Free Letter Tile Board
Visit Really Great Reading line to access a free online letter title board. Available in your web browser, the free tile board can be used on most digital devices and even offers digraph combinations and colors for added support.

2. Post-it notes!

Keep it simple with small sticky notes, markers, and a manila folder! Write consonants in one color and vowels in another so they stand out.

3. Play-Doh!

This super multi-sensory activity takes play-doh fun to the next level. Roll out dough, create letters, then smash them all together and start again!

4. Toy Blocks

Legos and blocks aren't just for building bridges, castles, and toy cities - they can also be used to practice building WORDS! Give your kid's toys double duty with a little phonics flare.

5. Clothespins & Popsicle Sticks

We love this word build idea from Parents Homework Hub! A few popsicle sticks and some clothespins can go a long way to helping kids strengthen their fine motor skills and practice building words and reading. Check out Parents Homework Hub for supply lists and instructions for creating this word build activity.

6. Magnet Letters (and Nonsense Words!)

Kids practice phonics skills with real words and nonsense words that follow decoding principles. Magnet letters are fantastic because they can be used on magnet boards, refrigerators, magnetic baking sheets, you name it!

How does your child like to practice word building? Leave a comment below to let us know!

Related posts:

8 Great Free Reading Apps for Kids
Vocabulary Jar - Fun Family Literacy Idea
15 Fun Ways to Weave Reading Into Family Time
Read Aloud Tips for Young Readers (And Their Parents)
35 Things Kids Can Read That Aren’t Books

Our incredible partners at The Hop Ice Cream in Asheville are spreading the love of reading with families in our community through their weekly "Breaking and a Book" events. Join The Hop Ice Cream co-owner, Greg, for a live break dancing session with his kids every Friday at 2:30p on Facebook Live followed by a fun read-aloud of a children's book. Watch, dance, and read with your family every Friday in April, and learn more about R2S while you're at it.

Each month as part of "Breaking and a Book," The Hop Ice Cream highlights a local literacy organization, and we are thrilled to announce that R2S is their featured partner for the month of April! In addition to sharing more about the work R2S does and encouraging folks to get involved, The Hop Ice Cream will also be donating a portion of proceeds from their online sales to R2S the week of April 19-25th.

Make sure to follow The Hop Ice Cream Cafe on Facebook to take part in the fun every Friday in April at 2:30pm. See you there!

Spring has arrived! Don't miss this go-to list of spring-inspired children's books by Black authors. Dream big, explore the outdoors, discover new adventures, and so much more.

"Sulwe" by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
"Sulwe" tops our list due to its incredible reviews by charmed families -- and who couldn’t love a well-crafted storybook by the uber-talented Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o? Featuring stunning illustrations by Vashti Harrison, Sulwe has won multiple prestigious awards due to its message: “love the skin [you] are in and see the beauty that radiates within.” Listen to this free Sulwe read aloud, narrated by none other than Lupita Nyong’o herself.

"Where’s Rodney?" by Carmen Bogan, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Rodney daydreams all day about the small park between his home and school. Where is Rodney? He may be at home or school, but his mind imaginatively wanders outside, where he loves being the most. As if by magic, Rodney is transformed when he finally encounters a huge park -- a great, big park where he can peacefully be. Check out this wonderful "Where’s Rodney?" read aloud on YouTube.

"Tasha’s Voice" by Carmen Bogan, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
From the author-illustrator duo who created "Where’s Rodney?," the not-yet-released storybook "Tasha’s Voice" takes place at the same beautiful park. Tasha finds it difficult to speak at school, but does she find her voice once she discovers her love of the great outdoors? Pre-order Tasha’s Voice now from AALBC, whose mission is to “sell books by or about people of African Descent.”

"Water, Water" by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
Eloise Greenfield is an award-winning poet with a mission to write in "Water, Water" about all the delightful experiences kids can have when they discover and play with water -- whether this be indoor sinks or outdoor puddles and pools. This quietly philosophical book will encourage young children to appreciate and creatively think about water in new ways by following the journey of a playful child.

"Ty’s Travels" (series) by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Nina Mata
"Ty’s Travels" follows an imaginative, energetic young boy named Ty who uses his creativity and love of nature to explore the great outdoors and make new friends along the way. Ty’s unapologetic playfulness will encourage young readers to follow his fun journeys and learn how to use the power of their imaginations. Check out all the books in the series: "All Aboard!," "Zip Zoom," and "Beach Day."

"She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story" by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Don Tate
This nonfiction book follows Effa Manley (1897 - 1981), the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for her executive work. Effa Manley spent her childhood watching the legendary Babe Ruth play in the Yankee Stadium -- and her adulthood breaking barriers by being the owner of the Newark Eagles. This book shows all girls and boys that they can and should shoot (or swing!) for the stars. Check out this awesome read aloud on YouTube.

"Your Name is a Song" by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
"Your Name is a Song" follows a little girl who is upset that everyone continues to mispronounce her name. On a walk back home, the girl’s mother teaches the girl that her name is beautiful -- and that names from all cultures are beautiful and lyrical. Will the girl be able to use this new information to teach classmates, teachers, and friends to start pronouncing her name properly? Watch this free read aloud.

"Max and the Tag-Along Moon" written & illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Max’s grandfather promises young Max that they both see the same moon at night -- and that the moon will follow Max all the way home. Max worries once clouds roll through the sky to cover up the moon, but learns something about his grandfather along the way. Watch this read aloud on YouTube.

"The Other Side" by Jacqueline Woods illustrated by E.B. Lewis
With beautiful, fluid watercolor illustrations by E.B. Lewis, "The Other Side" tells the story of two young girls: Clover, who lives in the Black side of town, and Anna, who lives in the white side of town. Despite Clover’s mom warning her of the dangers of crossing the fence, will Clover find a way to develop a friendship with Anna? Watch the read aloud here.

"Bird" by Zetta Elliott, illustrated by Shadra Strickland
Mekhai, called Bird by his late grandfather, uses drawing to create freedom and security as he copes with his grandfather’s death and brother’s addiction. "Bird" is the recipient of multiple awards and deserves to be read this spring due to its discussion on new beginnings. Check out the read aloud here.

Want to make the most of screen time for your young reader? These tried and true reading apps promote phonemic awareness in young children. Phonemic awareness is a child's ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the sounds of letters and groups of letters.

Transforming reading into a fun and engaging activity not only supports children in developing essential literacy skills but it encourages them to build a love of learning too. The educators and creators of the free reading apps below have made it their mission to do just that!

In a time when social distancing can pose challenges to young readers (practicing reading is a fun activity to do with friends, family, and classmates after all), incorporating extra learning activities into your kids' screen time may offer an effective way to overcome that obstacle. Plus, these hand-picked literacy and reading apps are all free!

Duolingo ABC
Named one of the best inventions of 2020, Duolingo ABC teaches young readers the alphabet, phonics, sight words, and more! With over 300 short, interactive lessons, Duolingo is an easy-to-navigate, gamified learning program; “gamified” meaning readers set their own pace and progress in a fun and multi-sensory way. These mini-games keep readers engaged and motivated through reward systems that build confidence and fluency in reading.

OG Card Deck
Developed around the Orton-Gillingham method of word learning, OG Card Deck helps readers sharpen their understanding of over 80 common sound correlations that form the building blocks for reading and spelling. Each phonemic card provides opportunity for experiential learning through hearing the sound, watching a clip of the proper articulation, and practicing with a voice recording/playback option. This app is a useful and straightforward literacy tool that will increase phonemic awareness in your reader.

ABC Magic Phonics
There are a handful of ABC Magic Phonics versions that you can navigate through as your reader gains fluency. This app is an excellent introduction to phonics. Like OG Card Deck, ABC Magic Phonics takes a fun but more simplistic approach to teach readers letter/sound connections and sound combinations, reinforcing comprehension with phonetic pictures. Some gamified reading apps with all the bells and whistles,can distract kids from retaining new information. If your reader is easily overstimulated, these fun but straightforward learning tools may be a better fit.

Phonics Genius
Phonics Genius is another flashcard-style app that increases phonemic awareness and is customizable to its user. Readers learn to identify letter sounds, their relationship to words, and how to blend them. Kids start by choosing a letter or letter combination and then have the choice to select where in the word set (beginning, middle, or end) they would like it to go. With over 6,000 words grouped into a few hundred categories, readers can enjoy diving into the multitudes of phonetic combinations.

Starfall Learn to Read
Starfall has proven to be an effective program for teaching emergent readers language comprehension. Focusing on phonemic awareness, sequential phonics, and common sight words, Starfall uses playful, multisensory games and activities to engage its users. It emphasizes exploration and grasps the necessity of positive reinforcement. “Great” and “making progress” are sounds kids need to hear when learning a new skill. In this way, Starfall promotes confidence in your reader that they will cherish and utilize offscreen.

Reading Hero
Reading Hero is an app that assists kids with their sight words. Readers recite words aloud into the microphone and are provided immediate feedback, gently ensuring errors will not become permanent patterns. Essentially, the app provides support comparable to a tutor or reading buddy for those tricky, “non-decodable” words. Practicing and supplementing the memorization of high-frequency sight words in addition to phonics instruction helps readers approach reading and grasp literacy through multiple avenues.

Teach Your Monster To Read
Like ABC Magic Phonics, there are multiple Teach Your Monster To Read apps you can download based upon your readers level. All are composed of fun, interactive games that feature a charming monster who engages your readers' imagination while teaching letter sounds/combinations and how to blend/segment them.

This award-winning app is not only immensely captivating with its story line and graphics, it was designed in collaboration with leading academics and compliments all synthetic phonics programs used in schools. It is worth noting that this program is free if accessed through its website on a computer, and has a 30-day free trial on your smart device with minimal cost beyond that.

Khan Academy Kids
Like most apps mentioned here, Khan Academy Kids creates an individualized experience for every learner and touches on multiple subjects, including reading. It features interactive activities, books, videos, games, and more! This app also allows you to see which activities your child has completed and track their progress. Khan Academy also offers offline content in a special section of the app’s library called “Kodi’s Suitcase,” which allows your reader to engage anywhere without an internet connection.

Related articles:

8 Winter-Themed Children's Books Featuring Black Protagonists
35 Things Kids Can Read That Aren't Books
25 Ways to Get Kids Reading Everyday

Position Summary
An integral member of the R2S team, the Learning and Engagement Manager is responsible for the development, implementation, and daily management of Read to Succeed’s literacy programming. These experiences include early (0-5 yrs) and K-3 literacy programs as well as family learning initiatives. The main responsibilities of this position include: developing and implementing trainings and programs; scheduling, training and supervising staff, volunteers, and interns; growing and maintaining community partnerships and communication strategies; overseeing student intakes and matching of students with tutors; designing and administering of student assessments; managing budget expenditures for instructional materials and curricula; and providing ongoing support to staff, tutors and students.

Position Summary
An integral member of the R2S team, the K-3 Literacy Coordinator assists the Learning and Engagement Manager (Manager) in K-3 literacy program implementation, including scheduling and training volunteers and interns; maintaining community partnerships and communication strategies; performing student intakes and matching of students with tutors; conducting student assessments, tracking student and tutor data, tracking budget expenditures for instructional materials and curricula; and providing ongoing support to tutors and students.

We’ve curated a list of eight of the best wintertime storybooks to read with your children this year. Some are classics and some are brand-new. Take a look and leave a comment with a book that you would add to the list!

"The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats
A children’s wintertime classic and the recipient of the 1963 Caldecott Medal, "The Snowy Day" has been read and loved by millions of children for decades. "The Snowy Day" beautifully captures the sense of excitement and whimsy children experience playing in the snow. Take three minutes to enjoy this free read aloud with your children by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.

 "The Nutcracker in Harlem" by T. E. McMorrow - Educational
A young Black girl in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance (1910s through mid-1930s) learns to sing and dance thanks to her newly-found magical nutcracker toy. This beautiful wintertime storybook immerses readers into the joy of the winter holiday season. The Nutcracker in Harlem won the Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Book of the Year award and is illustrated by the Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist James Ransome.

"Snowflakes" by Cerrie Burnell & Laura Ellen Anderson
Mia, the young protagonist, leaves the big city to go to live with her grandmother in a hidden, snow-covered forest village. She struggles with her new life, having to adapt to a new climate and rural, farming way-of-life. Mia questions why everything is different, including why the other children’s skin color is lighter than hers. The beautiful moral of "Snowflakes" is: “Every snowflake is different, every snowflake is perfect.”

"Amadi’s Snowman" by Katia Novet Saint Lot
A young Nigerian boy named Amadi escapes his mother’s daily reading lessons to run off to the market. But something unusual captures Amadi’s attention: he is stunned when he catches a popular older boy secretly reading. Amadi’s curiosity piques when he notices a strange new storybook about a fluffy white being with a carrot-nose, and this leads him to realize that reading can open up vast new corners of the world - including snow, which he’s never seen. Plus, here are free Amadi’s Snowman educational activities.

"Molly, by Golly!" by Dianne Ochiltree - Educational
"Molly, by Golly!" Is an intense legend about how the first female firefighter, a courageous Black woman named Molly Williams, fights a raging fire during a dangerous blizzard storm. Molly bravely takes charge despite the rest of the all-male firefighting team being ill with the flu. Author Dianne Ochiltree consulted historic records and firefighting experts to retell the story of the legendary Molly in the early 1800s.

"The First Day of Winter" by Denise Fleming
Featuring whimsical watercolor paintings by the author herself, "The First Day of Winter" follows a young boy who bestows gifts to a magical snowman over the first ten days of winter. Get started now with this free read-aloud video on Youtube, and discuss literary concepts with your children afterward with this free "The First Day of Winter" educational toolkit from the State Library of Ohio - click here.

"Cold and Hot" by Jacqueline Sweeney
A young Black boy experiences the two temperature extremes - very cold and very hot - within the same wintry day from his parents piling on several layers of clothing after he goes to play in the snow. Perfect for ages 3 to 6 years old. (Plus, check out this free parents’ and teachers’ guide here).

"Malaika’s Winter Carnival" by Nadia L. Hohn
In the second book in the Malaika series, a young Black girl named Malaika finally joins her mother in a new country. Here, she experiences her first snow while she acclimates to her entirely new world: she must learn to get used to the new chilly climate and her new school, family, and friends. Follow Malaika’s journey as she visits her first magical winter carnival! Beautiful mixed-media illustrations by Irene Luxbacher. For more information, visit the author’s website.

What books would you add to this list? Leave a comment below!

You may also like:

• 10 Ways to Help Kids Read More Books in the New Year
• 10 Ways to Celebrate National Family Literacy Month
• Free Kids Learning Activities & Educational Resources
• 15 Ways to Weave Reading Into Family Time
  

At the end of the year, we like to take a look back at some of our favorite articles we posted on the blog. Don't miss our top 10 posts from 2020 and leave a comment to let us know your fave!

1. Free Kids’ Learning Activities & Educational Resources
   This one-stop-shop contains loads of free ideas to promote literacy, encourage exploration nearby, and spark a lifelong love of learning. Check it out to discover whimsical ideas such as free children’s story audio books, virtual field trips and book clubs, free coloring pages, and reading & comprehension activities.
   
2. 10 Ways to Help Kids Read More Books in the New Year  
   Studies suggest that making learning fun and engaging can lead to a genuine curiosity and enjoyment of different subjects, especially reading. This blog post lists ten creative ways to help kids read more - don't miss it!
   
3. 35 Things Kids Can Read That Aren’t Books
   Do you know a reluctant reader? Sometimes reading books or homework passages simply doesn't inspire a love of reading at a young age, and that's okay. There are tons of things for children to practice reading that aren't books. Check out our blog article for 35 great ideas.
   
4. StoryLane - Community and Family Literacy Activity
   StoryLane is part scavenger hunt, part storytime, and entirely awesome. A great activity for families who are socially-distancing, StoryLane promotes family fun, literacy, and a way for neighbors to come together for a great cause! Read about StoryLane in Asheville and how your community can create your own over in our blog post.
   
5. Read Aloud Tips for Young Readers (And Their Parents)
   Research suggests that reading aloud is an excellent way to practice and promote reading abilities in children. There are many evidence-based methods for reading out loud that have been shown to improve literacy achievement. Read the blog post to learn what they are!
   
6. 15 Fun Ways to Weave Reading Into Family Time
   Who knew that activities like baking, cooking, board games, scavenger hunts, and chore charts could be fun ways to encourage your child to read more? It's easy to weave more reading into family time without your kids even knowing they're doing it! Read our blog post to learn more.
   
7. Vocabulary Jar - Fun Family Literacy Idea
   The Vocabulary Jar is one of our absolute favorite family-based literacy activities–easy to make and a fun tradition to build on at home. A Vocabulary Jar turns the chore of attaining new words and definitions into a fun family game - and can even become competitive. Check out the blog post for more information.
   
8. 10 Ways to Celebrate National Family Literacy Month
   While November is National Family Literacy Month, these 10 ideas can be used to encourage reading and family literacy all year long. Discover some of our favorite celebratory ideas, including the Thanksgiving Cafe (which can be modified for other dinner parties), starting a Little Free Library, and reading to senior citizens.
   
9. 5 Multisensory Ways to Teach Sight/Trick Words
   Sight words are frequently-used words that cannot be decoded and are often difficult for beginning readers to sound out; for example, “said,” “you,” and “make." Check out our blog post to discover five fun ways for children to learn sight words using multiple senses!
   
10. Get to Know R2S Executive Director, Jamie Creola
    Take a few minutes to enjoy learning about our new Executive Director, Jamie Creola, with our fun (literary) interview questions.
    

Stay tuned in 2021 for more fun, creative, and effective family literacy ideas on the R2S blog!

The incredible challenges of 2020 have shown our entire community just how resilient, compassionate, and forward-thinking we are. Read to Succeed volunteers and supporters are no exception.

When the pandemic struck and schools closed, our volunteers were unable to continue serving the 200+ students with whom we worked in-person across 11 elementary schools. We quickly had to adapt our programming and find a way to reach families, support teachers, and keep advocating for literacy in our WNC community.

Over the past eight months, R2S has invested significant time and resources in transforming our delivery of services. In addition to creating interactive online training courses for our volunteers, we also fully adapted our reading tutoring program to an online format.

Now, when 2nd-grader Amani meets with her tutor Bob, they do so over video conference. Amani in her home on her laptop, and Bob in his home on his computer - reading, connecting, and practicing core literacy skills.

We know that R2S students have not received the support they deserve this year. The pandemic has widened an already-existing opportunity gap between Black and white students in Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools. Lack of access to learning resources, one-to-one support, and in-class instruction leaves students further and further behind.

Bottom line: THE TIME TO STEP UP IS NOW. Your partnership makes our work possible. Will you help us reach our fundraising goal of $25,000 by December 31st, 2020? Click the button below to donate securely online.

Or mail a check made out to Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe to:
 
Read to Succeed
PO Box 18652
Asheville, NC 28814
 
Despite the challenges of this year, we have emerged on the other side of 2020 with a renewed sense of purpose and an impassioned commitment to advocating for early literacy. Your dedication to our community’s children energizes us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support of Read to Succeed!