David Bowles’ visit and Q&A with students was part of NEA’s Read Across America Sweepstakes

BALDWIN PARK—Award-winning author David Bowles today paid a virtual visit to the Kenmore Elementary School students, in Baldwin Park, California, as part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America Sweepstakes. David Bowles, author of My Two Border Towns, read to students and took part in a question and answer session with them. The National Education Association (NEA), in coordination with the California Teachers Association (CTA) delivered copies of David’s book, in English and in Spanish, to each of the 18 classrooms that participated in the virtual reading event.

“Congratulations to the students at Kenmore Elementary School who have been selected to receive a virtual visit from award-winning author David Bowles as part of NEA’s Read Across America Sweepstakes,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “David embodies the spirit of our popular year-round literacy program as we continue to celebrate and create a nation of diverse books, readers, and authors. All students deserve the freedom to read more books—not fewer—that are as diverse and complex as the society in which we live. When we have books that include characters of all races, genders and backgrounds, students discover their own voices and learn from the stories and voices of others.”

The year-round Read Across America celebration of reading takes place amidst unprecedented, partisan efforts to deny students an accurate and honest education, to censor the lessons taught in classrooms, and to ban books and erase students out of history based on their gender identity, race, or origins.

Delia Rivera, who teaches 5th grade at the school, entered the Read Across America Sweepstakes on behalf of her students. NEA randomly selected the winner from among the nearly 7,500 submissions. The popular contest ran between January 10, 2022, and January 31, 2022.

“I believe that it is more important than ever to have more books accessible to students at every grade level,” said Delia. “Banning books in libraries can slow down any progress we have made in creating a more just and equitable society that embraces cultural diversity, and the ability to explore different topics. Libraries should be filled with more books – not fewer – that celebrate diverse points of view and life experiences that are relevant and worthy of discussion.”

“Reading is a gift that cannot be measured,” said CTA President E. Toby Boyd. “When children see successful adults reading to them, our hope is that they too see reading as a way to cultivate leadership. We are thrilled our students are the winners of this Sweepstakes! Congratulations to our CTA member Delia Rivera for taking the time to submit an entry on their behalf.” Read Across America is a vital part of CTA’s year-round California Reads program.

About NEA’s Read Across Sweepstakes

The Read Across America Sweepstakes are part of the latest NEA year-round effort to connect students with diverse books and the joys of reading.  Authors available for a virtual visit are: David Bowles, award-winning writer, poet, translator, and author of My Two Border Towns; J. Elle, author of the New York Times  bestseller Wings of Ebony; and Ellen Oh, author of Finding Junie Kim and the highly acclaimed, young adult series The Prophecy Trilogy.

In August, NEA unveiled its latest list of recommended children’s and young adult books, as well as its popular Read Across America digital calendar. And in November, NEA presented 500 new books to the students at Monaview Elementary School, in Greenview, S.C. Every class at their school received a free set of books from the 2021-2022 Read Across America calendar.

Click on this link to read the official rules of NEA’s Read Across America Sweepstakes.

For more information on NEA’s Read Across America, visit: readacrossamerica.org
Follow us on twitter @NEAToday and @NEAMedia. #readacrossamerica

###

The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.