The Embassy Public Affairs Officer, Thomas Mesa celebrated the joy of reading with a group of primary school students at the Buenos Aires Zoo during the National Reading Marathon sponsored by Fundación Leer on September 19, 2014.

At one of the reading corners set up around the zoo, Mr. Mesa read aloud “How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?” by Jane Yolen (Scholastic) to a group of young students.

For twelve consecutive years, Fundación Leer has organized the National Reading Marathon, designed to highlight the importance of reading. Over 800 children from primary schools attended the event.  Volunteers and celebrity guests read to the children at reading corners set up around the zoo. Fundación Leer is an affiliate of the U.S. NGO Reading is Fundamental.

The United States Embassy was one of many sponsors that donated books for the reading marathon.  The books will become part of the collections of public school libraries throughout Argentina.