Now through December 17, 2022, visit Barnes & Noble (Biltmore Town Square) and purchase *new* culturally-responsive children's books to be donated to 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!

R2S distributes thousands of children's books every year in seasonal book bundles for students, at family reading and community events, with school and after-school partners, and much more.

Thank you to Barnes & Noble for their incredible partnership and dedication to students in Asheville and Buncombe County!

As the leaves finish falling from the trees and temperatures keep dropping, why not help your child “fall” in love with a new book?

Celebrate autumn this year with a bunch of good books guaranteed to make your mouth water for apples, pumpkins, and perhaps even inspire you to enjoy a mooncake!

“Apple Picking Day” written by Candice Ransom and illustrated by Erika Meza

A good book for early readers who are just beginning to recognize letters and sound out words, this charming little tale about a pair of siblings visiting an apple orchard is a great starter. Sure to captivate many, the rhyme and rhythm of this book is fun to follow and light read!

Watch a free read aloud here.

“In the Leaves” written by Huy Voun Lee

Have you ever been excited to learn new things alongside a new season? Well how about new words as well! Xiao Ming takes his friends (and the readers) to the farm to show off some new Chinese characters he’s learned  and explain some of the thought that went into making them!

“Monster Trouble!” written by Lane Fredrickson and illustrated by Michael Robertson

Our heroine is armed with wits and courage but just can’t seem to get rid of these monsters that show up at night! Winifred Schnitzel’s adventures with figuring out just what might make those monsters go away for once and for all are written in rhythmic rhymes that’ll have everyone engaged in what she’ll do next!

Watch a free read-aloud here.

“Fall Leaves: Colorful and Crunchy” written by Martha E.H. Rustad and illustrated by Amanda Enright

Explore science and seasons in this engaging children's book that teaches readers all about the life cycle of leaves. Identify leaf colors, parts of the leaf, and the different natural processes that contribute to the changing of the seasons and the colorful crunchy leaves that greet you in fall.

Watch a free read-aloud here.

“The Shadow in the Moon” written by Christina Matula and illustrated by Pearl Law

Featuring a classic Chinese folk story about the Mid-Autumn Festival, two sisters and their grandmother enjoy the story behind a Chinese holiday. At the end of the day, the sisters not only learn about the story, but learn how the mooncakes they enjoy so much came to be!

Watch a free read-aloud here.

“Apple Countdown” written by Joan Holub and illustrated by Jan Smith

Number-based and full of fun apple orchard-related tidbits, our next book is engineered to challenge kids to count and do some math as they learn about a trip to a farm! Also packed with apple facts, take a child on a ride through an apple-themed field trip as all of the class in the book enjoy their day!

Watch a free read-aloud here.

“Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn” written and illustrated by Kenard Pak

"Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn" highlights the way the seasons shift ever so slightly in all sorts of colorful ways, though it's not just limited to leaves! Kenard Pak makes sure to look at all the ways you can tell fall is here, through the temperature, the flowers, and the creatures alike! Beautifully illustrated, the accompanying pictures do a great job of visualizing these changes.

Watch a free read-aloud here.

Celebrate the autumn season and nature's colorful array of leaves! Don't forget to put on your sleeves!

Fall is here. Its extraordinary effects, are near . . . check out these 5 fun fall-inspired reading activities for PreK and elementary-aged children.

ACTIVITY 1: Flashlight Fun*Visual Sensory*
Ages: Infant and up

We love the Flashlight Fun activity we found on whattoexpect.com - check out the original here.

Watch the amazement in your child's eyes, as the lights dash, beam, and dance, from one surface to the next..

Supplies:
Flashlight
Tissue paper or scarf
Rubber band or masking tape
Colored Pencils or Pens

Directions:

• Place a piece of colored tissue paper or a sheer scarf over the end of the flashlight.
•  Keep  "filter" in place with masking tape or a rubber band that’s not too small
•  Shine the fun color/colors across your baby's ceiling, walls, toys and toes!
• Can even be done outside..
•  Narrating a story, making sounds, showing how fast/slow things can go could enhance the experience.
  
  

BONUS LITERACY IDEA: 
Support young learners in recognizing letters by creating alphabet stencils to go with the tissue paper or scarf filters. Parent can write words on tissue paper - sound out the word, spell it out, say the word and have your child repeat it, and even use it in a sentence together!

​ACTIVITY 2: Fall Scavenger Hunt
Ages: 6 and up

We hope you enjoy this activity we found, with free printables here.

Let’s help a scavenger find its list of treats with a fun-filled fall scavenger hunt for kids! Not only is this a great way to explore nature, but it puts our mini detectives on the case for discovering, problem solving, 

Supplies: 

• Printed out list, or self made list of items to scavenge.
• Writing utensil

Directions:

• Flexible to be done inside/outside
• These can be taken on fall field trips to local pumpkin patches, farms, and more.
• Can be done while traveling. 
• Can also be done, while watching some fall tv shows/movies

BONUS LITERACY IDEA:
Reading lists together can be a fun activity for young learners - shopping lists, packing lists, ToDo lists, you name it. Create a list together and practice sounding out the words on the list and/or spell each item out loud and on paper with your child. See if they can remember at least one word on the list and share a special treat with them when they do!

​ACTIVITY 3: Fall Themed T-Shirts
Ages: 3 and up

Get creative, with a young learner, and help them make something they can learn from and wear at the same time.

Find some “HOW TO” videos, and more examples of ABC SHIRTS here. 

Supplies: 

• New, or old shirt
  
• Markers(preferably fabric)
• Paint, if desired(preferably fabric)
• Paint brushes, if using paint
• Images to trace, or sketch

Directions: 

• Grab an old shirt, or a brand new one.
• Sketch images desired on shirt with a pen or marker
• With any art supplies handy (fabric markers or fabric paint work best) allow child/children to decorate their shirts.
• Allow to dry, gentle/delicate wash/dry. Fall themed shirts are now wearable.

BONUS LITERACY ACTIVITY/IDEA:
Parents can work with their early reader by having the child point to a picture on the back of the shirt together and practice the sounds of the beginning, middle, or ending letters.

For example, parent points to the "A" in "APPLE" and says, "a /a/ apple," and the child repeats. You can also practice spelling the word–[arent: “A-P-P-L-E”. Child: “A-P-P-L-E. "Or, parent can say “Repeat after me” a…A…p…P…p…P…l…L…e…E.”

​ACTIVITY 4: Fall Bingo
Ages 4 and up

Reminisce one of your favorite childhood games, with a twist. A fall-themed activity to spark curiosity and learn about fall.

Adults can find some free fall-themed BINGO  printables here. You can also create you own, online, or in the comfort of your home.

Supplies:

• Bingo boards/pages
• Something to cover spaces on the board/page (can be household items, like torn pieces pf paper, something edible, like cereal or chips.
  
  

Directions:

• Adult calls letter/number, word, or image.
• Child/children fill in the spaces til they have BINGO
• Whomever gets it first, wins the game.
• Clear board and play again.

This fun activity is great one=to-one, in small groups, or with an entire class!

BONUS LITERACY IDEA:
Practice beginning and ending sounds of the words children are covering on their bingo board. For example, if the word called out is "Turkey," say "Turkey! What's the first sound in turkey? /t/ That's right! What letter makes the sound /t/? T!"

ACTIVITY 5: Edible Pumpkin Play Dough *Texture Sensory*
Ages: 2 and up

You may have some things at home that can make a fun and doughy treat! Introduce a different style of reading enrichment with your child/children with edible pumpkin play dough.

Making the dough together can bring a sense of warmth and coziness to the atmosphere. Children will practice reading and following directions and creating something they can play with and eat..

Supplies:

• (1) 16 oz can of pumpkin
• 2 cups of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• OPTIONAL Sensory Play Food: Parents can add tasty  extras to their dough for extended sensory play! Seeds from a pumpkin, chocolate chips, and much more!
  

Directions:
For full recipe, click here.

BONUS LITERACY IDEA:
You can use this experience as an opportunity to work on recognizing letters in the alphabet and building decodable words together.

Using the dought, the parent/child can roll out pieces and shape them into the letters of a word such as CAT, TOP, or DIG. Once the word is built, have your child use their hands to smash each letter while saying it's name–C. . .A. . .T!

Make more letters, words, and even shapes with the dough and then . . .
EAT THAT DOUGH! As you are wrapping up with the play dough experience, allow the child to enjoy a treat, with their lesson. 

Use this fall as an opportunity to learn more fun-filled and  engaging fall reading activities to do with our children. HAPPY FALL TO YOU ALL!!!!!

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!

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 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.

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 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 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!

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!

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 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!

​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!

​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! 

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.

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! 

​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" 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"  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!

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!

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.

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.

​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.

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.

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.

​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.