Tree House Books

About

Tree House Books is growing and sustaining a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in Philadelphia. www.treehousebooks.org

Story

Tree House Books is a literacy center and bookstore based in North Philadelphia serving children and families. Our programs move beyond strictly academics to include a social, emotional, and cultural focus. In addition to providing access to a wide variety of books, we foster healthy attitudes towards reading and help our participants expand their self-concept through awareness of the opportunities reading provides. We also engage the community in holistic literacy activities that reflect our community’s rich ethnic, racial, and cultural heritage, giving us deeper access to examining issues that are relevant to our lives. We believe that students deserve an opportunity to read their way into their futures.

Mission

How You Can Help:
There are many ways that you can help! Tree House Books is constantly in need of financial support, volunteer staff, and book donations. We specialize in children's books and African American literature, poetry, biographies, memoirs, and non-fiction included!

TO CONTACT TREE HOUSE BOOKS:
(215) 236-1760
[email protected]
1430 W. Susquehanna Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19121

To Sign up for our E-Mail Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/TnM41
To volunteer: http://bit.ly/1pMsPfR

Products

Our Programs

ACCESS TO BOOKS:
Providing access to high quality books to the community is still at the heart of Tree House Books. Since 2008, we’ve distributed nearly 80,000 books in the North Central Philadelphia neighborhood and beyond.

Families can access free books through our:

* Giving Library, a pay what you wish community bookstore.

* Words on Wheels, a book delivery program where we offer a Story Time and book-based activities to various blocks in our neighborhood.

* Book Depot, a book distribution center for community groups, day care centers, schools, and teachers.

BOOK CAMPS:
Through our core after school program, we support children ages 4-16 in building their literacy skills. Every afternoon throughout the school year, children spend their afternoons in our bookstore enjoying facilitated reading, writing, and creative time. At the end of the day, our participants take books home and to share with friends and family.

Our after-school and summer Book Camps focus on language acquisition, recreational reading, critical thinking, and creative writing. Working with volunteers trained in a trauma-informed approach, we work with children in 5-week cycles on selected themes. Most importantly, we encourage students to realize that reading is fun! We accomplish our work through:

- Daily Story Time, an all-ages shared experience with a thoughtfully selected boot related to the theme
Book Clubs, age-specific silent reading groups and group discussion of the text

- One-on-one reading time, individual volunteer and student time working on specific literacy skills

- Writing and art projects, an opportunity for reading comprehension and self expression led by trained teaching artists

- Tree House Sprouts, specific time and programming set aside for little ones, ages 4-6, just learning to read.

NEW FAMILY PROGRAMS:
In 2016-2017, Tree House Books will increase its focus on early learning (ages 0-5) and family programs. We understand that much of a child’s learning occurs beyond traditional school settings, which is why we have spent the past 10 years building relationships in the community and providing support to parents and guardians to inspire reading in the home. As we continue to grow, we will expand on our ambitions with the launch of TREE HOUSE BOOKS’ FAMILY PROGRAMS, including:

- Special Community Gatherings: Monthly pot lucks and open house events for parents, guardians, volunteers, supporters, and children to come together to open the doors of communication within the community and to discuss various aspects of literacy.

- Family Events: new in 2017! Regular family programs to support families reading together.

- Read with Me: new in 2017! Weekly gathering of new guardians and parents-to-be to read with the youngest members of our community.