|  | Book Babies Graduation | Thirty-four graduates of Book Harvest’s Book Babies Class of 2023 received their diplomas on Saturday, June 10, 2023 in a celebratory ceremony at the W.G. Pearson Center in Durham.
Enrolled in the Book Babies program since their birth in 2018, these graduates wrapped up their five-year relationship with the Book Harvest program at a balloon-filled gathering that heralded their literacy accomplishments, their love of reading, and their readiness for kindergarten. Each graduate walked across the stage wearing a bright yellow cap and gown, accompanied by a proud family member.
Adelfa Santiago, mother of graduate Victoria, spoke to the crowd during the ceremony, “The truth, personally, we were not used to reading books. However, since discovering Book Babies, Victoria is the one who encourages us, the adults at home, to read books. Book Babies has truthfully changed us. Victoria is very much interested in books and now I see that her little sister is interested, as well.”
Each child was awarded a diploma, a personal gift box filled with learning games, puzzles, and, of course, books! The event culminated in a joyous piñata activity with sweet treats for all to enjoy. |
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| | |  | PFAST: Learn how to navigate the school system | What is PFAST? Parent and Families Advocacy and Support Training
The Parent & Family Advocacy and Support Training (PFAST) program is a fun training offered at no-cost to Durham County residents. The training explains how to navigate your child’s school. During the training we talk about different themes related to how to transform the educational experience for your child.
Themes covered will include: parent engagement, how to understand your child's report card and state exams, and much more.
This year's training will be offered in person at the Book Harvest office (2501 University Drive, Durham, NC 27707) and it's divided into 6 sessions of 2 hours each. Each session will take place on Saturday from 10AM to 12 PM starting on July 15 and running through August 19 (6 total).
If you have any questions, please contact Nataly Arriaga at nfrias@dconc.gov or by telephone at 919-560-7978.
| | | Family Engagement in Action | The Family Engagement team has made a commitment to participate in community-hosted family events to share with families the work we are doing and to invite families to connect with or become more deeply connected with Book Harvest. Alisa Miller, Family Engagement Manager, recently attended one such event held by Kreative Kidz NC, a Durham-based drop-in learning center. | The purpose of this event was to celebrate Community Helpers Week and featured speakers from various organizations who do family support work in communities across the city. Alisa not only spoke about the upcoming plans for actively engaging families at Book Harvest and did a read aloud of the book Brown Boy Brown Boy What Can You Be by Ameshia Gabriel Arthur.
If you are a family-serving organization in Durham and would like a member of our team to attend one of your events, contact Alisa@bookharvest.org. We'd love to come out to share and support. |
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| | Let’s Talk About Kindergarten! | Join Book Harvest, Durham's Partnership for Children, Empowered Parents in Community, and Durham Public Schools for a kindergarten enrollment webinar! Get all the information you need about kindergarten in Durham on June 20th from 5:30-6:30 PM.
Email Kendra Brown at kendra@dpfc.net with questions! | | | The Book Harvest Truck! | “The Book Harvest is here! The Book Harvest is here!”
That was what one little boy exclaimed when we pulled up to his school a couple of years ago. And now, with the purchase of our brand new truck, we hope that “Book Harvest is here!” will become a popular refrain.
Just last month, Book Harvest purchased a box truck, making it much easier for us to spread books and book joy throughout our community! The truck is currently in the middle of a Book Harvest makeover and will soon be cruising on the streets of Durham. Come see it at the Summer Block Party on July 22 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park! It’ll be on full display and we can’t wait.
And be sure to wave ‘hello’ if you see us driving by! |
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| | Book Harvest Events | Storytime in the ParkJuly 13, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Solite Park | Join us for a delightful afternoon of Storytime at the Park with Book Harvest & Museum of Life and Science on Thursday, July 13 at 3:30pm. This event will take place at Solite Park, 4704 Fayetteville Road, Durham, NC 27713.
Water is wonderful! Join us to learn about the way water works and how it helps us cool off!
Bring your little ones and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with interactive billingual storytelling, science experiments, and outdoor activities.
This event is free, plus you'll have an opportunity to choose from our books to take home for FREE and keep forever! |
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| | Summer Block PartyJuly 22, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Durham Bulls Athletic Park | Book Harvest’s annual Summer Block Party will once again fill the concourse of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (409 Blackwell St, Durham, NC 27701) -- this time on Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The free, outdoor, community-wide event will be a joyful celebration of books and National Summer Learning Week! The afternoon will be action-packed, featuring fun-filled family activities and entertainment, and an abundance of free, culturally inclusive children’s books for every child – from infants to high schoolers – to choose their very own books to take home and keep forever! |  | | Storytime in the Family SpaceThursday Mornings on June 22, July 6, and July 13 | 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.
Join us in the Family Space for storytime on June 15, and June 22 (2501 University Drive)! |
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|  | | | Book Corner with June Neese | This section features books and content highlighted by Book Harvest Durham staff. | Meet JuneJune is Book Harvest’s newest employee and started at Book Harvest…in June! As the Book Hub Coordinator, June stocks and maintains Book Hubs (bookshelves, book boxes, and more) throughout the Durham area — scheduling installations, coordinating volunteers and contractors, conducting inspections, and handling site needs. June has nearly twenty years of combined experience in trade books, music, and supply/logistics. June grew up in a rural area and feels most at-home outdoors; their subjects of interest are far-flung and oftentimes include local history and lore, college football (Go Heels!), genealogy, and cartography. |
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| | | Adult BookBodies in Motion and at Rest: On Metaphor and Mortality, by Thomas Lynch |  |
| Young Adult/Children’s BookHat Box (The Hat Trilogy), by Jon Klassen's |  |
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