We are officially on summer recess, but our Book Bank will is open. Read below for our hours for the next few weeks.
Week of 8/15-8/19 Monday, August 15th: 12pm-4pm Tuesday, August 16th: 12pm-4pm Wednesday, August 17th: 12pm-4pm Thursday, August 18th: 12pm-4pm Friday, August 19th: 12pm-4pm
Week of 8/22-8/26 Monday, August 22nd: 12pm-4pm Tuesday, August 23rd: 12pm-4pm Wednesday, August 24th: CLOSED Thursday, August 25th: CLOSED Friday, August 26th: CLOSED
Week of 8/29-9/2 Monday, August 29th: 12pm-4pm Tuesday, August 30th: 12pm-4pm Wednesday, August 31st: CLOSED Thursday, September 1st: 12pm-4pm Friday, September 2nd: 12pm-4ppm
While summer is a great time to rest, relax, and have fun, it is also the perfect time to read!
Summer reading is important for young readers to continue learning, grow in their social-emotional development, and discover the joy and power of reading. Sitting down and reading with your child is also a great way to spend time together and share important lessons. To help you get started, we’ve put together our top 5 picture books to read with young readers this summer.
1. I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown A beautiful book about a father-son relationship, this story shares all of the lessons Karamo taught his son while he was growing up. This is a great opportunity for a parent to share with their child that they are perfectly designed and to help instill a sense of self-love and confidence.
2. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn Another great story about the parent-child relationship, The Kissing Hand is from the perspective of a little raccoon who needs reassurance as he faces his first day at school. His mom finds an unforgettable way to reassure him whenever he feels scared. This simple story has beautiful illustrations.
3. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman This story is all about the power of imagination and staying true to yourself! Grace wants to play Peter in her school’s production of Peter Pan, but her classmates point out that Peter was a boy and that he wasn’t Black. However, with the support of her family, Grace learns that she can be anything she wants to be. Amazing Grace will help you to teach your child that they can be anything they want to be, no matter what other people say.
4. We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio “Look with kindness and you’ll see wonder.” This book is the perfect tool for families to talk about empathy and kindness with young children. The story is written from the perspective of Auggie, a young boy who was born with a facial deformity. He talks about how other kids see him differently from them, even though he feels like any other kid. He says, “I can’t change the way that I look, but maybe people can change the way they see.” This story taps into every child’s longing to belong, and to be seen for who they truly are.
5. Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go To School! by Christina Geist In this fun, role-reversal story, mom, dad, grandma, and even the dog beg the kids to let them come to school. This story is helpful for parents with kids who are nervous about going to school. It portrays school as a desirable privilege that only kids and teachers get to have, and shows them that they are ready to take on the classroom!
So, there you have it! Our top 5 picture books to read with your kids this summer. We hope these stories help you to inspire your young readers and share with them some valuable life lessons. Happy reading!
We were so happy to welcome Governor Ned Lamont and Senator Gary Winfield to New Haven Reads today! They talked with students in our tutoring program and in our Arts and Crafts Club. We appreciated the opportunity to discuss how NHR is addressing the impact of the pandemic on student learning and well-being.
Read more about the Governor and Senator’s visit here.
Teachers, please join us for New Haven Reads’ Summer Teacher Open House on Saturday, May 21st from 11 AM to 3 PM. The Book Bank will be closed to the public so that you can browse to select free books for your students for summer reading.
***Please note that you MUST RSVP to attend. We no longer have a time limit for teachers, but we will have a limited capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions, so we cannot allow anyone inside the building without a ticket.***
April is Volunteer Appreciation month! Our volunteers are the heart and soul of New Haven Reads. We are sharing some of our volunteer spotlights to help celebrate!
Check out a few of our past spotlights and stay tuned for our Spring picks!
Written by: Isaiah Cunningham, NHR Tutor and intern.
New Haven Reads is continuing their awesome opportunity for students in K-5th grade to participate in our virtual field trips along with receiving books to add to their at home library. There are still spots available for teachers and students who have already participated in our virtual field trips.
Our virtual field trips are similar to our in-person field trips. Teachers receive up to five books for each student to take home during these virtual field trips.
Within the 30 minute to an hour period of time our Book Bank Director, Victoria Smith, reads stories to the students via google meet.
“We are excited to be able to present these field trips to students with an opportunity to receive books as well as an experience to have someone else other than their teachers to read to them,” says Victoria Smith.
There are still plenty of open spots for our virtual field trips! Visit our New Haven Reads website, then click on the program calendar, in which you can sign up for a virtual field trip event. You can also click the following link.
Written by: Isaiah Cunningham, NHR Tutor and intern.
New Haven Reads is showing their gratitude and appreciation to the volunteers who have continuously supported New Haven Reads and our goal of developing a community of confident readers and expanding book access.
“We at New Haven Reads are so thankful to have such dedicated and involved tutors and volunteers. We are elated to have this opportunity to thank them for their time and effort”, says Fernanda Franco, Outreach Director at New Haven Reads. New Haven Reads is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on volunteers. Our volunteers are our heart and soul of New Haven Reads and we are honored to have them be a part of our team. Therefore, we are awarding navy blue fleece jackets with the New Haven Reads logo on the left chest area to our volunteers with three or more years of service. “I absolutely love the idea of providing volunteers with fleece jackets. These volunteers provide an invaluable service to the community, and it feels wonderful to see their efforts recognized for it,” says Aimee Curtis-Travaglini, Bristol Site Director.
New Haven Reads is always looking for ways to recognize the contributions of our volunteers. Volunteer support is integral to our success, and we’re proud to give them the recognition they deserve. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with New Haven Reads, please click on the link here.
In celebration of Read Across America day on Wednesday, March 2nd, The Study at Yale invited guests to join in supporting a local youth literacy partner. Study Hotels is hoping to take their brand’s love of reading and transform it into a real difference maker for Read Across America Day and New Haven Reads.
Since 1998, March 2nd is annually recognized and celebrated as Read Across America Day, inaugurated by the National Education Association to highlight the importance of reading. Throughout the month of March, The Study at Yale invites guests to join them in supporting New Haven Reads by making a donation.
Students from New Haven Reads designed bookmarks that will be distributed to all guests throughout the month.
We are so excited to celebrate Read Across America and partner with The Study at Yale!
