Wayne County Reads

Wayne County Reads is a shared experience for kids and families to read the same book, explore issues together, promote literacy, and build community.

Richmond, Ind. — August 18, 2025 — Every Child Can Read (ECCR) is celebrating the conclusion of Wayne County Reads: The Wild Robot, a community-wide reading initiative that brought families together to share a story, spark conversations, and strengthen literacy across Wayne County.

The program was announced at the Community Scholastic Bookfair and officially kicked off April 28, wrapping up on August 1. The selected title, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, was available in both English and Spanish. Over 1,170 copies were distributed through county libraries and community partners:

Cambridge City Public Library

Centerville Public Library

Dublin Public Library

Hagerstown Jefferson Township Library

Morrisson Reeves Library

Two Sisters Bookshop.

“Wayne County Reads is about more than reading a book together. It’s about building connections between families, neighbors, and communities through the power of story,” said Patti Peterson, Executive Director of Every Child Can Read. “We are thrilled to see so many families dive into Roz’s adventure and explore its lessons about resilience, nature, and community.”

The shared reading experience was made possible thanks to generous community support. “We are grateful to our sponsors, county libraries, and community partners for making this program possible. Their support helps ensure that every child has access to stories that inspire curiosity, empathy, and imagination,” added Peterson.

Looking ahead, ECCR will announce the 2026 Wayne County Reads selection on social media. Families are encouraged to follow Every Child Can Read on Facebook to be the first to learn what the next community read will be.