Mississippi State University’s first lady Rhonda Keenum will share the children’s version of Greg Mortenson’s best seller, “Three Cups of Tea,” with young readers in an interactively linked broadcast this afternoon.
In conjunction with the MSU Extension Service and Maroon Edition, the common freshman reading program, Keenum will share “Listen to the Wind” from the John Grisham Room of the Mitchell Memorial Library at 4 p.m. with K-4 graders across the state.
According to the Maroon Edition website, Keenum’s 30 minute broadcast is one of many activities related to the Maroon Edition program. 
“[The book] tells the story of how Mortenson, who arrived in a Pakistani village lost and ill, found young children holding their classes outdoors, writing on the ground with sticks. He vowed to make a difference. This book is a beautiful example of one person’s continuing commitment to help others,” Keenum said. “The power of one individual to change the lives of many is something I hope stays with the children.”
Keenum also invited Shaz Akram, Pakistani native and MSU staff member, to share items from her native country during the broadcast. The items on display will include six dolls, native clothing, a tea set and other children’s items from Pakistan.
Two Pakistani children will also join Keenum in the broadcast, Akram said.
“This experience will spark intellectual curiosity and open opportunities for children to explore ideas, lifestyles, and challenges far different than their own,” Keenum said.  “Regardless of where in our great state [the children] are located, they are part of a larger shared experience.”
Sherry Smith, Director of MSU’s Lee County Extension Center, said one person’s devotion to making a difference is not the only thing children will take away from the broadcast.
“The broadcast will also emphasize the importance of reading for [young] children,” Smith said.
Stephanie Pendleton, who works with MSU’s Jackson County Extension Center, said public libraries across the state have encouraged children to participate in the live broadcast, despite limited space.
“[The broadcast] is a wonderful thing that will encourage young people to get involved,”she said
Approximately 20 children will join Keenum in the John Grisham room during the broadcast, and she said she hopes at least 100 children will join the interactive broadcast at extension sites across the state.
“We’ve opened it to the public, so it’s hard to predict an exact number [of participants],” Keenum said.
The nine participating extension centers are located in Hinds, Jackson, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Newton, Prentiss, Tate and Warren counties.
“In a day when children are flooded with distractions such as television, video games, computers and cell phones… [taking] the time to read to our children tells them that ‘you are important to me.’ For me and Mark, the opportunity to expand the Maroon Edition experience to include our children was extremely rewarding,” Keenum said.
Keenum, a mother of four, said “Listen to the Wind” is now on the “Keenum Kids Top 10 List,” along with Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Berenstain Bears.
“Listen to the Wind” can be purchased from Barnes & Noble on the MSU campus.