Asheville Celebrates Black Children’s Book Week

Read 2 Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (R2S) was thrilled to put Asheville on the map for the national celebration of Black Children’s Book Week (BCBW), February 23 – March 1, 2025.

Read 2 Succeed of Asheville/Buncombe County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating children in both reading fluency and literary awareness, that is, to make sure young students are exposed to top-quality books by a wide variety of excellent writers. Its current program, “Black Children’s Book Week,” focuses even more clearly on minority writers whose works offer a perspective often missing from other programs.

Toshia Sitton, R2S Community Engagement Coordinator, explains. “Black Children’s Book Week is a global movement and a chance for families to come together to celebrate Black excellence and representation in children’s literature during Black History Month and the start of Women’s History Month. We know family reading events increase access to positive experiences around reading and learning, especially after Hurricane Helene, where students missed more than twenty-five days of school. Here in Asheville, families enjoyed three different events throughout the week, where we distributed free book bundles and literacy resources, shared delicious meals together, played games, and just had fun in community.”

At the Pisgah View Apartments Community Center recently, families came to hear local writer Jorge Redmond read Black Girl, Black Girl. The highly acclaimed children’s book offers readers a vibrant journey through history by honoring amazing Black women who have changed the world such as Mae Carol Jemison, Wilma Rudolph, and Claudette Colvin. Participating families received free copies of the book for Redmond to sign, were fêted with a free dinner from Blessed Soul Food, and enjoyed reading, carnival games, face painting, and dancing to the music of a live DJ.

The event was sponsored by Read 2 Succeed and “Books Alive! With Mrs. Ann,” along with support from Self-Help Credit Union and Sunstone Foundation.

For more information about Read 2 Succeed events, contact Jessica McLean, Co-Executive Director, at (828) 747-2277.