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May 2023

May is what we like to refer to as Books on Break season. It is the time of year when you walk into our Durham offices and find a flurry of activity all centered around providing many thousands of books for K-5 students in Durham Public Schools.

This year, students at 30 of the DPS elementary schools will choose books for summer reading. The books are theirs to read over the summer and keep forever! Our aim in providing free, high interest, inclusive books for summer reading is to do our part in supporting students as they maintain the skills they developed during the school year, ultimately returning to school in the fall confident and ready to tackle a new year.

Check with your child's school to find out when they are holding their book selection days, and encourage your young one to read all summer long. Visit us throughout the summer and select more books from our 24-7 outdoor shelves or in our Family Space.

Storytime in the Family Space

Thursday Mornings on May 25, June 1, June 15, and June 22

Stories from the Start is a bilingual storytime for babies, ages 0-2, which runs on Thursdays from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM. In addition to the story, there are songs/music, nursery rhymes, and a movement activity.

Turning Pages is a bilingual storytime for children, ages 3-5, which runs on Thursdays from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM. After the storytime, there is a short guided activity related to the story.

Join us in the Family Space for storytime on May 25, June 1, June 15, and June 22 (2501 University Drive)!

Starlab Storytime with the Museum of Life & Science

June 15, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Save the date! Join Book Harvest and the Museum of Life & Science for another exciting storytime all about stars! The museum will be bringing over their wonderful Starlab for us all to enjoy plus storytime & fun activities!

This event will have limited capacity but no worries, there will be many more fun storytimes to enjoy!

Meet Amy

Amy Franks has been on the Book Harvest team since 2018 and is the Associate Director of School and Family Engagement — but she is also the manager of the Durham Books on Break program!

Amy received her Bachelor of Arts in English Education from North Carolina Central University, and has over 25 years of experience in school settings as a classroom teacher (English & language arts), as an out-of-school-time educator & leader, and as a professional development trainer.

Adult Book

Another Brooklyn by Jaqueline Woodson

Young Adult/Children’s Book

The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad; illustrated by Hatem Aly