Wayne County kids and families are encouraged to all read the same book in the coming weeks.
Every Child Can Read, a local nonprofit, is offering a new initiative, Wayne County Reads.
Sixteen sponsors have defrayed the cost of distributing multiple copies of one common book at five libraries and a bookstore.
Free copies of “The Wild Robot” are available at several locations through Aug. 1.
Author/illustrator Peter Brown has produced multiple New York Times bestsellers, including this story.
“Robot” is also a pick of the year by School Library Journal, Kirkus, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon and New York Public Library, and an American Library Association Notable Book for Children.
Roz, a robot, discovers she’s alone on a remote island and begins to learn survival skills from the island’s hostile animal inhabitants. When she tries to care for an orphaned gosling, the other animals help. The island starts feeling like home until her mysterious past comes back to haunt her.
Organizers say ages 8-11 can read “The Wild Robot” independently, but children as young as 6 can read it with their families and discuss it. The book is rated PG for mild violence.
Through this effort, Every Child Can Read aims to encourage residents to explore issues together, promote literacy and build community.
Where to find ‘The Wild Robot’
Free copies of the Wayne County Reads book can be picked up at these locations through Aug. 1:
- Cambridge City Public Library, 600 W. Main St., Cambridge City
- Centerville Public Library, 126 E. Main St., Centerville
- Hagerstown Jefferson Township Library, 10 W. College St., Hagerstown
- Dublin Public Library, 2249 E. Cumberland St. (U.S. 40), Dublin
- Two Sisters Books & More, 193 Fort Wayne Ave., Richmond
- Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 N. Sixth St., Richmond
Participants are asked to share the book with a friend or return it.
Discussion questions are offered online.
A Kids Market Day will take place from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 7, in Elstro Plaza, 47 N. Sixth St., Richmond.
A version of this article appeared in the May 7 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.