May Newsletter!
Kara Cecchi- May 2
- 9 min read
See what we're reading, what we're donating, & what we're doing throughout the community this month
A look back at April:
April was a beautiful month, filled with story-times, scavenger hunts, flowers, & fundraising. We partnered back up with stormwater engineer, Gabby, for two more watershed demonstrations at two Edgecombe County public schools. We partied with Wilson County Public Library for a Book Fiesta celebrating El Día de Los Niños/ El Día de Los Libros. We made mosaic bean art with Princeville Elementary for an art show at the opening of the Princeville Community Garden. We launched our newest initiative to create a diverse bookmobile library & raised 1/5th of the funds we need with our Books in Bloom event. And we helped launch Habibti Bookshop, a mobile bookstore, the newest & only independent bookstore in our communities. We filled our free libraries this month with books celebrating and educating Arab American heritage month, National Poetry Month, and Earth Day. We want to say a special thank you to all of you who donated books off of our April wishlists. Each book was donated into our free libraries in our diverse, rural communities. We are so excited that diverse books are finding their way into homes, libraries, & classrooms showcasing a true need throughout our communities for books that are representative of the communities they serve.
Watershed Story-times with Gabby: We partnered back up with the city of Rocky Mount & their stormwater engineer Gabby Pacelli to head to a few local schools to teach all about ways that we can help keep our local watershed clean! Gabby & I headed to two Edgecombe County elementary schools to read a few stories, use an interactive model to see our impact if we choose to not protect our waters, & all became water protectors by signing a pledge to take what we've learned to start implementing ways to keep our waters clean.
Our book clubs: This month we took our MOSS Kids Book Club to seven locations; we visited eight classrooms, & two public libraries (we'll see you in May Drag Story Hour)!! We followed our friend, Kengi, as they brought their artwork outside & learned that sometime art can be temporary, so we should enjoy it while it's here. Kids crafted their own murals & helped paint a portion of a much bigger MOSS Kids Book Project mural. Check out our blog post to grab some FREE printables!
Lunch Bunch: We met up with our local elementary school kids to participate in their Lunch Bunch program. We started the second book in our new series -- The Kid's in Mrs. Z's Class: Rohan Murthy Has a Plan by Rajani Larocca. Rohan Murthy has an ambitious dream to launch his own pet care business, but when he starts small by babysitting the class guinea pig, he makes big mistakes. The kids are using the activity kit that goes with the series to create their own protagonist student that will join Mrs. Z's class as we continue with the series. You can get the guide for the first two books, here. We made new bookmarks & are hoping to finish Rohan's book this month, so stay tuned on our socials!
Picture Books on Tap: This month, we read the same books as our MOSS Kids Book Club -- Mural Island -- and added The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith. We grabbed our beverages & settled in for a storytime like we're back in elementary school. After reading together, we created our own murals based on social justice issues close to our own hearts. We shed a few tears while listening to the stories and recognized the importance of adults reading picture books.
Books in Bloom: Our first in-person MOSS Kids Book Project fundraiser for our newest initiative, our diverse bookmobile library! We partnered with The Social Secretary and Pacellis Bakery at the Blount-Bridgers House to offer an afternoon tea service, poetry reading, & floral arranging workshop. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with delicious bites, hot tea, beautiful prose, & blooming florals. This was the perfect way to kick off our fundraising for our bookmobile. Big thanks to all our sponsors for helping to curate an incredible event -- The Social Secretary, Pacellis Bakery, Evergreen Craft Market, & Interaction Gardens.
What we're reading in May:
Our May MOSS Kids Book Club pick is Mistaco! A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas by Eliza Kinkz. Follow a girl who's had a terrible day full of mistakes and as the mistakes pile up, they come tumbling out of her. Her Lito surprises her by saying everyone makes mistakes, and if she makes a tortilla out of her mistakes, he will EAT it. She then finds that making mistacos can be a delicious solution. Check out our supplemental book list all about bad days full of mistakes to pair with our May MOSS Kids Book Club pick. We'll be bringing a few of these titles to our local meetups!
We're celebrating and educating for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month as we pay tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success. It's through picture books that children can get a better sense of the beautiful, diverse world we live in; to better understand, appreciate, & accept cultures different from their own. The Spice Box shares family stories handed down from generation to generation. Dim Sum Palace takes us on a fantastical food-filled adventure. Check out our full list.
Let’s celebrate all the moms, grandmas, aunts, & mom-like caregivers! We understand that Mother’s Day can be hard for many. Please know that we see you and are sending extra love & light your way. We have a FULL book list with books featuring moms/grannies/aunts/& more all with diverse & inclusive characters, experiences, perspectives. Time For Us shows precious times between a mother and her son. Missing Momma discusses a veteran's PTSD and a family's love for each other--on good days and hard days. Nainai's Mountain follows a little girl who is nervous about visiting Taiwan— until her paternal grandmother, her Nainai, takes her on a mountain-climbing adventure.
Graphic novels are under-appreciated in literary circles, often dismissed as just “comic books” for kids or light reading unworthy of literary consideration. However, this perception has been rapidly changing as educators, scholars, and readers recognize their unique and profound benefits. They significantly enhance reading comprehension and vocabulary. The combination of visual and textual storytelling helps readers decode complex narratives. They serve as a bridge for reluctant readers, helping them transition from picture books to more complex texts. Reading graphic novels requires the integration of visual and textual literacy, which can enhance critical thinking skills. Graphic novels offer a unique perspective on literature and education, and it’s time to embrace their potential to enrich the reading experience for all. Check out our favorites & be sure to celebrate Saturday, May 3 for Comic Book Day!!
National Space Day is 5/2! Space books need to feature diverse characters and stories to help children understand that space exploration and science are not limited to one group of people. Our children desperately need to develop a more inclusive view of the world and the people who make it. Seeing diverse role models in space exploration can inspire children to pursue their own interests in STEM fields. These stories can also spark critical thinking about issues of representation and inclusion in STEM fields. This can help children develop a more nuanced understanding of the world and their place in it. Let's start by diversifying bookshelves.
More booklists in May: We’re in the process of making & updating our lists on Jewish American Heritage Month, children's mental health awareness, global accessibility awareness & Milo's top seven books for his 7th birthday. Keep an eye out for these lists which will be featured throughout the month.
What we're donating in may:
This month we’re filling up our free libraries with brand new titles to celebrate and educate on AANHPI Heritage Month, graphic novels for Comic Book Day, & Milo's favorites. We are extremely grateful for all donations from the community. Even the smallest contributions help us get new books into rural communities where affordable access to diverse books is scarce. Heading into May, we could use your help to restock our libraries with middle grade and young adult literature. These are our most-sought after books, but also, our least-donated. We hope you'll help us celebrate all our youth, including those society thinks doesn't read (guess what? they do!). Check out our wishlists & consider donating today. Help us create a better society by raising kind, accepting kids.
What we're doing throughout the community:
Picture Books on Tap, our adult picture book club: Come out to Larema Beverage Company at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14th, to connect with your inner child and your local community through stories, crafts, and great food and drinks! Check out our monthly calendar for a complete list of events.
Book Clubs: We’re continuing to bring MOSS Kids Book Club to our local locations -- four elementary schools across two counties, Braswell Memorial Library in Rocky Mount and our new location, the East Tarboro Community Garden. Plus, we're back with Drag Story Hour at Boxyard RTP. This month, we're reading all about bad days full of mistakes & making the best of them with Mistaco! Get ready to spill those mistakes.
Lunch Bunch: We're still on to book two of our chapter book series celebrating different kids in Mrs. Z's class, all from different perspectives & backgrounds. And every book in the series is by a different author! A set will be donated to the school for other Lunch Bunch groups to have access.
East Tarboro Community Garden opening: Freedom Org has been hard at working getting the new community garden in Tarboro ready & we're helping them celebrate! We'll have a garden-themed story-time & a craft. We'll be launching a free library filled with brand new books (board books, picture books, middle grade books, & young adult books) & a seed library with a ribbon cutting. And we'll be bringing Habibti Bookshop, a mobile booktruck whose proceeds go towards funding our nonprofit. Join us on Sunday, May 4th, from 1-4pm.
Read with us Rocky Mount's Silent Book Club: With all the incredible work we are doing for children's literacy, we have decided to create an adult bookish community in the twin counties. Read with us Rocky Mount is an in-person group of readers cultivating community, actively working to make time in our schedules to gather and read. We currently host a silent book club at Larema Coffee House in downtown Rocky Mount each month. We come together to read silently. This month's Silent Book Club date is: Sunday, May 18th at 12PM-2PM. We may be reading outside if weather permits so bring a blanket/camping chair. We have a monthly adult book club that meets on Thursday, May 29th at 6pm at Larema Coffee House to discuss this month's book club pick -- Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards. Be sure to join our Read with Rocky Mount Facebook group & follow along with @cecchireads on Instagram for more information about upcoming events & adult book recs.
Habibti Bookshop: This month, we're taking our newly launched mobile bookstore out on the town. Purchases made off the booktruck help to fund MOSS Kids Book Project. All books on the truck are written by and about marginalized voices. Patrons can even purchase books off the table to be donated to MOSS Kids! Check out the graphic to see where Habibti Bookshop will be this month. Be sure to mark your calendars for our newest event -- Habibti Talks -- where we'll be bringing authors to our community to be in conversation with our hosts, Kara Cecchi & Etaf Rum. This month, we'll be talking with Jared Lemus, author of Guatemalan Rhapsody, a short story collection. Follow us on Instagram!
We need your help:
Bookmobile Library: Here is your chance to help us secure a Bookmobile for rural North Carolina! Each person who donates any monetary donation to our fundraising campaign will have their name somewhere on our bookmobile carving our forever thanks into the greatest gift we can give to our communities, FREE access to diverse and inclusive literature. Here's the link to donate. We ask that you help us spread this far & wide. Our kids need access to diverse and inclusive literature now more than ever with libraries & the freedom to read under attack. It's free to share our posts & our donation link. Help us reach our goals & finally secure our bookmobile!!
Fill the Flags: This month we're launching our Fill the Flag campaigns for PRIDE & Juneteenth. For the past two years, we have joined Wilson Pride & Tarboro Juneteenth to hand out FREE books to kids. And we couldn't do it without your help. We need to raise $600 each flag to purchase 100 books to hand out at each event. Last year, we filled the PRIDE flag in a few days and then we really struggled to fill our Juneteenth flag. This year, we're hoping to fill both & hand out FREE books to every kid who visits our kids zone! To donate: send a financial contribution to
Paypal: @MOSSKids Venmo: @MOSSKids Cashapp: $MOSSKidsBookProject
and in the description add where you'd like your contribution to fill. It's more important than ever to get books by Queer & Black authors into the hands of our youth. With book bans on the rise, this is our chance to fight back!!
what's coming next in june:
June Events: The month of festivals!!! This month we will be popping up all around North Carolina to hand out free books to kids for Pride & Juneteenth. Summer reading kicks off. And Kara will be heading to Philly for the ALA Conference!!! Booklists in June: We'll be sharing books celebrating PRIDE, Juneteenth, & International Day of Play. We'll be adding booklists about refugees & our favorite children's audiobooks. Milo will also be sharing his newest reviews-- Minute Reviews with Milo! Don't forget to follow along with us on our socials to see what we're doing every week.
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