Picture book by Antwan Eady and Gracey Zhang named 2022 Read for the Record pick
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2022
BOSTON, March 31, 2022 – Jumpstart for Young Children, a national early education organization, has selected Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Gracey Zhang, for this year’s 17th annual Read for the Record literacy campaign. Read for the Record will bring together millions of readers around the globe on October 27, 2022 to read Nigel and the Moon for the annual effort to celebrate literacy and provide access to high-quality children’s books. Published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, the picture book, about a young boy who dreams big but is too scared to share those dreams aloud, demonstrates how pride in where we come from can create a shining confidence. For the fourth year, the TJX Companies, Inc. —a longtime Jumpstart contributor—will serve as the campaign’s exclusive presenting sponsor.
“This year, we’re proud to continue our annual Read for the Record tradition of highlighting a book that encourages every child to dream big,” Jumpstart CEO Naila Bolus said. “Antwan’s story honors essential workers and their families and examines complex issues of class and race through the eyes of a young boy. At Jumpstart, we advocate on behalf of our essential teacher workforce every day, giving educators the support they need to help children realize their dreams.”
In children’s books, representation matters. That’s why Jumpstart emphasizes selecting high-quality books with characters that reflect the diversity of our world. When children and their parents sit down to read Nigel and the Moon on Read for the Record Day this fall, they will encounter a loving Black family and supportive classmates that reflect the care and diversity of their own school and community.
“Recognizing that literacy matters is as important as recognizing that underrepresented and underserved communities exist, and Jumpstart’s mission is my mission,” said author Antwan Eady. “We aim to celebrate literacy and bridge that gap. I’m honored to have Nigel and the Moon serve as Jumpstart’s 2022 Read for the Record book.”
“Advancing early childhood literacy is crucial for the development of all children, and we are proud to support Jumpstart in their mission to do just that in this year’s Read for the Record campaign,” said Suzanne Murphy, President and Publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books. “In Nigel and the Moon, Antwan Eady and Gracey Zhang beautifully capture what it feels like to dream big, and we’re so pleased that this book’s inspiring messages will reach even more readers through this partnership.”
Each year during Read for the Record, adults celebrate the transformative power of books by reading to children in their communities. Partaking in this celebration not only brings communities together, but also creates a positive association with reading and learning and highlights the social-emotional benefits that occur from one-to-one reading. Despite the continued impact of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, over 2.31 million readers participated in Read for the Record.
Thanks to continued support from TJX Companies, the leading off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States and worldwide, and the campaign’s exclusive presenting sponsor, the campaign will impact thousands of children from underserved communities who have limited access to books by enhancing their home libraries with high-quality literature.
A limited number of special-edition, paperback copies of Nigel and the Moon will be sold exclusively by Jumpstart, in both English and Spanish, through the Jumpstart website. Jumpstart’s special edition will feature reading tips, vocabulary words, reading comprehension questions, and activity guides developed by Jumpstart’s team of early education experts. All proceeds help bring Jumpstart’s program to more preschool children in underserved communities across the country.
Nigel and the Moon will be available for pre-orders beginning June 2022. Everyone is invited to pledge to read with Jumpstart at jstart.org. To learn more about Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, visit readfortherecord.org.
ABOUT JUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
For 25 years, Jumpstart has been fueled by the core belief that providing high-quality educational opportunities to all young children contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty. Jumpstart provides an early education solution that meets the needs of the children and communities we serve while advocating for change that ensures all children have access to the early learning opportunities they need. Learn more at jstart.org.
ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS
HarperCollins Children’s Books is one of the leading publishers of children’s and teen books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures and bestsellers such as Charlotte’s Web, Goodnight Moon, The Hate U Give, A Long Walk to Water, The One and Only Ivan, The Polar Express, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and Where the Wild Things Are; series including The Chronicles of Narnia, Curious George®, the Giver Quartet, Little Blue Truck, Pete the Cat, Ramona, Red Queen, The School for Good and Evil, and Warriors; and graphic and illustrated novels such as Invisible Emmie, New Kid, and Nimona. Consistently at the forefront of digital innovation, HarperCollins Children’s Books delights readers through engaging storytelling across a variety of formats and platforms, including the largest young adult (YA) book community, Epic Reads, and Shelf Stuff, where kids and parents can discover the best middle grade books. Part of HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperCollins Productions develops and produces TV, film, and interactive media for HarperCollins’s major franchises, which include Carmen Sandiego, The Oregon Trail, and Pretzel and the Puppies. HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, which is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, has operations in 17 countries, and is a subsidiary of News Corp. You can visit HarperCollins Children’s Books at www.harpercollinschildrens.com and www.epicreads.com and HarperCollins Publishers at corporate.HC.com.
Jumpstart Contact: Eleanor Naiman, eleanor.naiman@berlinrosen.com, 510-365-0675
HarperCollins Children’s Books Contact: Lauren Levite, lauren.levite@harpercollins.com
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