Sit Stay Read

📚🐾 Join SitStayRead at Bookie's Bookstore for Tales & Tails: A Reading Adventure!

Bring your kids to read to our certified reading dogs and discover a love for books! We're also looking for volunteers who believe in the power of literacy. Don't miss this special event!

For more info, visit our website or send us a message!

📚🐾 SitStayRead is thrilled to announce our participation as a vendor at the 3rd Annual Words of Wonder Literary Festival on July 27th! 🎉📖

Join us for a celebration of books-to-be-written and books-to-be-read. This amazing festival will feature:

✨ Interactive literacy and art programming
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Opportunities for youth and families to connect with community resources
📚 Animated storytelling by Black authors and illustrators
📖 A diverse group of book vendors and installations for all ages
💃 Story-based dance
✍️ Interactive writing workshops
🥁 Indigenous and African styled drumming
🎶 A wide range of live music
🍎 Healthy food choices and snacks
🎁 Giveaways and much more!

Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the joy of reading and community engagement.

📅 Date: July 27th

Spread the word, share this post, and invite your friends and family to join us! Scan the QR code for more details and to RSVP. We can't wait to see you there! 🎉📖🐾

Words of Wonder Literary Festival

🌞 Summer is here! 📚 You know what that means—Summer Reading Goals! Whether you're finishing a book you started or picking out a new read, set a goal and enjoy a good book in the sun, at your local park, or at the library! ☀️📖 Check out some of our staff's current reads below! ⬇️ Comment with your current read or your next good book! Happy reading! 📚✨

- A Novel Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez - Discover a powerful story of family, love, and identity as Olga navigates her life in New York amidst political and personal upheaval. 🌆❤️
- The Moth Presents: A Point of Beauty: True Stories of Holding On and Letting Go - Be moved by true stories of resilience and transformation, capturing the beauty in moments of holding on and letting go. 📖💫
- La porta segreta by Mac Barnett - La porta segreta, is a book for adults about books for children. It contains essays about the potential of children’s fiction, the role of the children’s writer, and the genius of children as readers.

Happy First Day of Summer! 🎉 It is hot out there so stay cool with a good book, a furry friend, and perhaps a refreshing paleta!
✨A 'paleta' is a frozen treats that is popular in many Latin American countries, as well as among Hispanic communities in the United States and other regions. It is similar to an ice pop or popsicle, but there are some key differences.
💬 A paleta is typically made by blending or pureeing fresh fruits or other flavorful ingredients, such as chocolate or cream, and then freezing them in various molds. The result is a frozen, fruity, creamy, or even savory treat on a stick. Paletas come in a wide variety of flavors, including strawberry, mango, coconut, tamarind, hibiscus, and many more. Some paletas incorporate small chunks of fruit, nuts, or other ingredients for added texture and flavor.

📚☀️ Check out Paletero Man, Que Paletero tan cool! by Lucky Diaz - Illustrated by Micah Player A great read to go with your paleta! This colorful fun book depicts wonderful examples of kindness, community, and delicious paletas.

Comment below to share what your favorite paleta flavor is! 😋

Happy Juneteenth!! 🤎
Let's celebrate the past, empower the present, and shape a future where unity and equality reign.🙌🏾❤️✊🏽 Here are some children's stories that celebrate Juneteenth and the wonders of being black: 'The Juneteenth Story' by Alliah L. Agostini, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud - With colorful illustrations and a timeline, this introductory history of Juneteenth for kids details the evolution of the holiday commemorating the date the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom​.
'The Year We Learned to Fly' by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López - On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their grandmother’s advice: “Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing. Somebody somewhere at some point was just as bored you are now.” 'All Different Now' by Angela Johnson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis - Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South.
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Strike a Pose, It's National Selfie Day! 📸✨

On this special day, we celebrate the art of capturing our unique selves through the lens of a camera. It's a time to embrace our individuality, share our smiles, and express our personal style. 🤳😄💃 Happy National Selfie Day! Here are some childrens books about self-love:
'I Like Myself!' by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow - High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves—inside and out. 'There's Only One You' by Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook, and Rosie Butcher - This feel-good book reassures kids that, whoever and whatever they are, it’s awesome being YOU! Expertly written to include all kinds of children and families, it embraces the beauty in a range of physical types, personalities, and abilities. 'Be You!' by Peter H. Reynolds - Here, Reynolds reminds readers to "be your own work of art." To be patient, persistent, and true. Because there is one, and only one, YOU.
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Pride Month is a time to embrace diversity, champion inclusion, and recognize the tremendous contributions and vibrant spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. It's a reminder that love knows no boundaries, and everyone deserves to be their authentic selves. 🌈🌍🌟 As we celebrate Pride Month, here are some childrens books that remind of the importance of identity and acceptance: 'Pink Is for Boys' by Robb Pearlman, illustrated by Eda Kaban - This timely and beautiful picture book rethinks and reframes the stereotypical blue/pink gender binary and empowers kids-and their grown-ups-to express themselves in every color of the rainbow.
'We Are the Rainbow! – The Colors of Pride' by Claire Winslow, illustrated by Riley Samels - What does the rainbow mean to you? Learn the meanings behind the colors of the LGBTQ+ pride flag! Shaped pages reveal each color of the rainbow as you read. 'Love Makes a Family' by Sophie Beer - Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what's most important in each family's life is the love the family members share.
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+Pride ❤️💛💚💙💜

As we near the end of our Spring Programs, let's celebrate some precious moments SitStayRead has had the pleasure of sharing with our amazing students, dedicated teachers, and wonderful volunteers (both furry and not furry)! 📚🐾🌸 We are immensely grateful for everyone's hard work, enthusiasm, and support. Here's to the joy and love of learning we’ve spread together! 🎉❤️

Just one week ago, we celebrated our memorable Bark N' Ball of 2024! 🎉 Today, we want to shine a spotlight on our incredible SitStayRead Board members who played a crucial role in making the event such a success. Their passion and unwavering support are the backbone of our organization, and we couldn't do it without them.
Here are some moments we captured of our dedicated board members at the event!
We are deeply grateful for your commitment and endless support. Thank you for all that you do to help us achieve our mission of fostering a love for reading and learning. 📚🐾❤️

A huge round of applause to our incredible staff who worked tirelessly to make Bark N' Ball a resounding success! Special shoutout to our Executive Director, Deirdre, your dedication and hard work made this event unforgettable. Thank you for all you do to support SitStayRead's mission! 📚🐾🌟

As we gear up for Bark'n Ball, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our incredible volunteers who make our mission possible! 🫶🏾 Your dedication to literacy and love for dogs is truly inspiring. Let's celebrate together on Thursday! 🐾❤️

Time is running out! ⏳ Don't miss your chance to join us at Bark'n Ball this Thursday! Secure your ticket now and be part of an evening filled with laughter, love, and literacy. 📚🎉

🥳 We are 9 days away from SitStayRead's annual benefit celebration Bark 'n Ball.
We have planned a fun evening for our extended family and tables are filling up!
🎈We encourage you to get your tickets this week.
Please spread the word ~ use this event to introduce a friend or two to our work. Please reach out if the cost of a full price ticket is a challenge for you. We may have a solution!
If you cannot attend in person, register to bid and donate online. We won't be live streaming the festivities, but we will be sharing sizzle reels on Instagram all evening.

📚✨ Help us light up young minds like Ava and Kendall at SitStayRead's Bark'N'Ball event! 🐾 Your ticket purchase directly fuels our mission of making reading and writing fun for students across classrooms. With every page turned and every word written, our volunteers and staff are igniting a passion for literacy in young hearts. Let's celebrate their achievements and support their journey to brighter futures. 🌟 Don't wait - grab your ticket now (linked on our website and insta links) and join us in creating a world where every child embraces the joy of learning! 🎟️

🗓🥳 We are officially 16 days away! 📚 Don't miss out on SitStayRead's biggest event of the year - Bark'N'Ball! 🎉 Join us for an unforgettable evening of fun and fundraising on 5/16. Your ticket helps support our vital literacy programs, empowering students in both bilingual and English-only classrooms to enhance their reading and writing skills. 🐾 Every purchase makes a difference in the lives of the students we serve. Secure your ticket today and be a part of transforming lives through the power of literacy! 🌟 Please check out sitstayread.org for ticket info or via links on instagram !!

🐾 Meet Roman, our esteemed 2023 Dog of the Year, and his wonderful owners! 🏆 We're thrilled to honor Roman's contribution to our community at Bark 'n Ball on May 16th. Join us as we celebrate his legacy and raise funds for dogs in need. Don't miss out on this heartwarming event - secure your tickets today! 🎟️

Hello everyone! Let's kick off the week with a quick recap of our weekend event. We had a delightful time hosting volunteers and board members at our office space for a cozy book swap. There were tasty pastries 🥐, great conversations 💬, and of course, plenty of book discoveries! 📚 Check out some photos from the event. We're excited about the idea of creating more opportunities for book lovers to gather, share, and explore beloved reads together. Stay tuned for more!

🎉🐾 Happy Friday! 🐾🎉 Don't forget to mark your calendars for May 16th – it's Bark 'n Ball time with SitStayRead! 📚✨ Join us for a paw-some night filled with furry friends, fabulous fun, and heartwarming moments, all in support of fostering literacy and confidence in young readers. 📖💖 This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever, featuring enchanting entertainment, delicious bites, and the company of fellow animal lovers who share our passion for this amazing cause. 🌟🐶 Don't miss out – grab your tickets now! 🎟️ Link in bio.

📚🐾 Join us on Saturday, April 13th, from 11 am to 1 pm for a special Volunteer Appreciation Month event! ☕️🍪 Enjoy coffee, snacks, and book swapping with the SitStayRead staff and fellow volunteers. RSVP for extra details!

📚 Let's rally together, book lovers! 📚 Our friends at Bookies, Beverly's beloved independent bookstore, need our support. As fellow advocates for literacy and community, we've had the pleasure of hosting events with them in the past. Now, they're facing the threat of closure due to lagging sales.

You can help keep the magic of Bookies alive by visiting their store or ordering books online. Spread the word to friends and family, and let's show our love for local businesses. 🌟

🌸 Spring has sprung! 🌸 There's no better time to dive into the wonderful world of children's books accompanied by our adorable certified reading assistance dogs. 📚✨ Here are a couple of heartwarming recommendations to get you started:

🦋 Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer, Illustrated by Marco Almada Rivero: A captivating and child-friendly look at the extraordinary journey that monarch butterflies take each year from Canada to Mexico; with a text in both English and Spanish.

🌿 Love Grows Everywhere by Barry Timms, Illustrated by Tisha Lee: This beautiful and warmly-told story teaches us that love really does grow everywhere, in all shapes, forms, and sizes. Through gentle, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, feel the love in a close-knit family who grow plants and sell them in their local market, and discover the types of love that exist in the many homes of their diverse community.

Let's embrace the season of growth, love, and new beginnings together! Which of these reads are you most excited to dive into? Share your thoughts below! 🐾💕 "

💜🌍 Women's History Month is a powerful reminder of the progress women made and the work that still lies ahead. Here are some children's books that feature women's voices:

'Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World' by Vashti Harrison - Featuring the true stories of 35 women creators, ranging from writers to inventors, artists to scientists, this book inspires as it educates. 'How Women Won the Vote' by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, illustrated by Ziyue Chen - Readers are introduced to suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. Paul and Burns met in a London jail and fought their way through hunger strikes, jail time, and much more to win a long, difficult victory for America and its women.
'Hidden Figures' by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman - explores the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, known as "colored computers," and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career.

Today, on International Women's Day, we're proud to celebrate the incredible women behind SitStayRead. Our team, comprised entirely of women, is dedicated to empowering communities through literacy. From story time sessions to fostering a love for reading and writing, every step we take is guided by the passion and dedication of these remarkable women. Here's to the strength, resilience, and creativity they bring to our mission every day.

🌸🌍 Happy Women's History Month! This is a time to reflect on the legacies of the extraordinary women who have shaped our world. It is a moment to recognize their achievements and celebrate their contributions in every field of endeavor. Here are some children's books that highlight and amplify women's voices:

'Girls Can Do Anything' by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Ali Pye - Empower young girls everywhere and let them know that being told "you're such a girl" is the greatest compliment of all! 'Little Leaders- Bold Women in Black History' by Vashti Harrison- Get to know the true stories of 40 inspiring, trailblazing Black women in American history. Your little one will learn more about poet Maya Angelou, chemist Alice Ball, abolitionist Sojourner Truth, and so many more—and maybe even find their newest role model.
'Fantastically Great Women Who Made History' by Kate Pankhurst - This beautiful title looks at the stories, accomplishments, and adventures of many more brilliant women throughout history.

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❤️ Love comes in many forms. Here are some children's books that show just how simple and easy it is to love one another:

'Love Grows Everywhere' by Barry Timms, illustrated by Tisha Lee - There are kisses from Dad, songs with Grandma, charity from neighbors, and playtime with friends. There’s old love, new love, and everything in between! But there’s a new kid who is not quite so sure... Can the gardener’s daughter be brave and extend her love to him?

'A Crankenstein Valentine' by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Dan Santat - Cheesy cards, allergy-inducing bouquets, and heart-shaped everything? YECHHHH! It's enough to turn anyone into a monster! An ordinary kid becomes Crankenstein on the most lovey-dovey, yuckiest day of the year: Valentine's Day. Can Crankenstein find a way to turn his sour day sweet? Can a monster find a little love in his heart?

'The Day It Rained Hearts' by Felicia Bond - One day, it rains hearts, and Cornelia Augusta catches them. She realizes that the hearts are perfect for making valentines. Each heart is special in its own way, and Cornelia Augusta knows exactly who to send them to: her animal friends.

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Happy Valentine's Day!!

SitStayRead's Bilingual Program is in full effect! 🌟 We're thrilled to offer such an incredible resource for our students who speak Spanish and are still learning the English language! Our students receive support in both English and Spanish for both our read-alouds and our reading and writing stations! Check out some of our students' work! 📚📝

¡El Programa Bilingüe de SitStayRead está en pleno efecto! 🌟 ¡Estamos emocionados de ofrecer un recurso tan increíble para nuestros estudiantes que hablan español y aún están aprendiendo el idioma inglés! ¡Nuestros estudiantes reciben apoyo en inglés y español tanto para nuestra lectura en voz alta como para nuestras estaciones de lectura y escritura! ¡Echa un vistazo al trabajo de algunos de nuestros estudiantes! 📚📝

Bark N Ball is back and better than ever!

Join us on May 16 at Salvage One for a night of fun, food, and philanthropy! Buy your tickets today and save with our early bird special!

Click the 🔗 in our bio to buy tickets!