What:    Western New Mexico University, along with KRWG Public Media/NMSU and Freeport McMoRan, is joining Jumpstart and Simon & Schuster to Read for the Record in support of early literacy. With events both in person and online, Read for the Record is centered around readings of “Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon,” a Simon & Schuster book written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua. Craft activities, books, drinks and snacks will be provided at the in-person portion of the event. Each year, Read for the Record brings together millions of adults and children as they read the same book on the same day, building an intergenerational community through the power of reading. To date, the campaign has amassed 22 million participants worldwide and has facilitated the distribution of hundreds of thousands of books to children in underserved communities. Promoting the power of reading through partnerships with celebrity literacy champions, corporate sponsors, nonprofit organizations, and others, the Read for the Record event seeks to increase awareness of early literacy’s critical impact and to make high quality children’s books accessible for all children.

Who:     WNMU first lady Valerie Plame is doing a live reading, which will be streamed over Facebook too. WNMU faculty member Dr. Alexandra Neves, WNMU Child Development Center staff member Susan Villenes, and student government treasurer Briana Garcia, in addition to other university employees and students, have prepared video readings for availability online. Partner organizations include KRWG Public Media/NMSU, Freeport McMoRan and Grant County Imagination Library.

When:   Thursday, October 28, 2021, with in-person events being held from 5 to 7 p.m. and online readings being available all day.

Where: WNMU J. Cloyd Miller Library on the Silver City campus and online at both wnmu.edu and facebook.com/WesternNewMexicoUniversity.