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Author Patrick Carman and Agros International Donate Children's Books for Literacy Project in Central America

Mon, 13 Feb 2006, 15:47:00 EDT

Edited by Christopher Simmons

SEATTLE, WA (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The New York Times best-selling children's author Patrick Carman, and Agros International, a Seattle-based, non-profit organization that works with poor, rural families to help them escape poverty, are teaming up with Scholastic to bring libraries to 25 communities in Central America and Mexico. Carman, best-known for his highly successful Land Of Elyon book series, has made a commitment to put books into the hands of children in Central America and Mexico, many of whom have never experienced the pleasure of owning their own book.

Working with Agros International, Carman is purchasing and donating thousands of Spanish-language books from Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company, in addition to giving tables, chairs, and bookcases to help build school libraries in these villages.

Mr. Carman has been involved with Agros International for many years. "Illiteracy is one of the primary causes of poverty," Carman said. The topic has come up over the years during trips to Central America that Carman has taken. David Carlson, Director of Development of Agros adds, "Literacy expands conceptual capacity, which in turn aids in overall personal development."

Long term, Agros sees the project providing the foundation for village resource centers that will coordinate with teachers, schools, and community leaders. Agros' Director of Programs Laurie Werner believes this will open up opportunities to dialogue with governmental and non- governmental agencies about a sustainable library model to work with in the future.

Scholastic will compile customized classroom libraries that are language, age and culturally appropriate, featuring a selection of wonderful titles from Scholastic en espanol, the Spanish imprint of Scholastic. The books will be for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Carra Gamberdella, International Project Coordinator at Scholastic, said, "Scholastic is proud to support Carman's commitment to building literacy among children. He has shown this dedication for classrooms all across America and now he is extending his message of the importance of reading for children in Central America and Mexico."

David Carlson hopes the library project will start a ripple effect and give these communities new hope. Scholastic, Patrick Carman, and Agros are passionate about that same thing.

Patrick Carman is the author of the best-selling The Land of Elyon trilogy, published by Scholastic. The first book, The Dark Hills Divide, was released in 2005 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. The final book in the trilogy, The Land of Elyon III: The Tenth City, will be published in May 2006.

In addition, Scholastic en espanol just published Land of Elyon 1, in Spanish in December 2005 (La Tierra de Elyon Libro 1: El li­mite de los Montes Negros). The next book will be published in Spanish in December 2006. For more information about Scholastic's involvement in this project contact Charisse Meloto: 212.389.3785, cmeloto@scholastic.com.

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