Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--In the second year of Mississippi State's common freshman reading program, Maroon Edition, First Lady Rhonda Keenum is encouraging young readers across the state to participate in a children's version of the best-seller, "Three Cups of Tea."
Working with the MSU Extension Service, Keenum will share the children's book "Listen to the Wind" with K-4 graders in a Sept. 10 broadcast that will be interactively linked with Extension sites from Senatobia in the north to Pascagoula on the Gulf Coast.
The 4 p.m. program, which will be broadcast from the John Grisham Room of Mitchell Memorial Library, will last approximately 30 minutes.
"I think it's very important to share books with young children to encourage reading skills that expand vocabulary, cultural awareness, and curiosity about the world," said the mother of four. "'Listen to the Wind'" tells, from a child's point of view, the story of Greg Mortenson's near fatal attempt to climb one of the tallest peaks in Pakistan and how his failure became a mission to build schools for young children."
She added: "There's a great message for children about how one person can make a big difference in many lives."
In addition to sharing the colorful and beautifully illustrated "Listen to the Wind," Keenum has invited Shaz Akram, a university staff member and Pakistani native, to share toys, clothing, and other items from her country with children participating.
"My hope is that this event will help spark a desire to continue to read and learn," Keenum said. "And it's a wonderful complement to the adult version of the book, which has had tremendous success."
Mortenson will speak at MSU Sept. 23, culminating a number of fall semester events surrounding Maroon Edition. For more information, see www.maroonedition.msstate.edu.
Sites participating in the Sept. 10 children's program are [alphabetical by county):
Hinds County
1735 Wilson Boulevard
Jackson, MS
601-372-1424
Jackson County
4111 Amonett Street,
Suite E
Pascagoula, MS
228-769-3047
Lafayette County
101 Veterans Boulevard
Oxford, MS
662-234-4451
Lee County
5338 Cliff Gookin Boulevard
Tupelo, MS
662-841-9000
Leflore County
309 West Market Street
Greenwood, MS
662-453-6803
Newton County
65 Seventh Street
Decatur, MS
601-635-7011
Prentiss County
2301 North Second Street
Booneville, MS
662-728-5631
Tate County
#1 French's Alley
Senatobia, MS
662-562-4414
Warren County
1100-C Grove Street
Vicksburg, MS
601-636-5391
For more information about the Extension sites or other sites that may be available, contact Connie Templeton at 662-325-8643. To purchase a copy of "Listen to the Wind" from Barnes and Noble at Mississippi State, telephone 662-325-5840 or 662-325-8361; or e-mail rjw96@ra.msstate.edu.