Reading Is for Everyone

Community-powered book access, joyful reading events, and family literacy experiences across Asheville and Buncombe County.
Book Distribution

R2S shares thousands of culturally-responsive books with families at school and community events and in seasonal Book Bundles — free, no strings attached. Every book features diverse, affirming characters and stories, grounded in the principles of mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.
Guest Author Visits 

R2S connects students and families with Black children's book authors for in-person assemblies, readings, and community events. When young readers see themselves in the authors in front of them, something shifts. Every student receives a free signed copy to take home.
Family Reading & Community Events
From reading carnivals and community celebrations to family literacy workshops with dinner and childcare, R2S creates joyful, low-barrier spaces where families build literacy knowledge, access resources, and experience the power of reading together.

    Want to bring R2S to your school, event, or community?
"I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity. Read 2 Succeed is such a special group and you guys are really doing the work. It was such a joy working with you all and meeting so many amazing kiddos. I hope we can work together again in the future." 
-  Dr. Khalyn J. Solomon, Visiting Guest Author, "My Superhero Aurie"

What R2S Offers

At Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe, we know that literacy doesn't live only in classrooms. It lives in homes, barbershops, cookouts, community centers, and everywhere families gather. Our Community Literacy Access programming — anchored by our Positive Experiences Around Reading (PEAR) initiative — is built on a simple belief: when children have joyful, affirming experiences with books and reading, they become readers for life.

PEAR meets families where they already are, bringing books, activities, and community directly to the schools, housing communities, after-school programs, and neighborhood spaces that make up the R2S literacy ecosystem.

What Community Literacy Access Looks Like in the Community

R2S shows up across Buncombe County year-round, through a wide range of programming designed to make reading feel like what it is — joyful, relevant, and worth celebrating:
  • Culturally-responsive book distribution at events, in seasonal Book Bundles, and directly in partner classrooms, complete with comprehension guides and extension activities
  • Guest author visits featuring Black children's book authors who engage students at school assemblies and community events, with free signed books for every child
  • Reading carnivals and family literacy events with live read-alouds, literacy-themed games, hands-on activities, and prizes. Don't miss the Community Holiday Extravaganza in December and Black Children's Book Week at the end of February!
  • Family literacy workshops with food and childcare, offering caregivers practical early literacy strategies and tools they can use at home right away
  • Monthly Family Reading Newsletters distributed through partners and online, keeping literacy resources in families' hands all year
  • Out-of-school time support through after-school and summer camp partnerships
  • Community partnerships with local schools, libraries, and organizations including Buncombe County Public Libraries, Buncombe Partnership for Children, Children First/Communities in Schools, My Daddy Taught Me That, Youthful HAND, Asheville PEAK Academy, Christine W. Avery Learning Center, Community Action Opportunities, and more

Who We Reach

PEAR programming reaches PreK through 5th grade students and their families across Asheville and Buncombe County — with a particular focus on BIPOC families and communities that have been most impacted by systemic disinvestment in education. More than 80% of our events happen by direct invitation from trusted community partners who want R2S in the room.

In recent years, PEAR has distributed 3,500+ culturally-responsive books, engaged 500+ families with literacy resources and activities, and hosted or participated in 30+ school and community reading events annually.
Want to support book access and community literacy events?