To celebrate the January 18 debut of Carmen Sandiego, the new animated Netflix series, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt partnered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools recently to bring nearly 2,000 students together for an event with superstar Gina Rodriguez, the voice of Carmen. Thousands of students nationwide, from Boston to Milwaukee to Chicagoland, joined the fun virtually via live stream.
During the event, fifth and sixth graders from Miami competed in a Carmen-themed game show while connecting with Gina and learning more about geography and global exploration. Each student in attendance received the new Who in the World is Carmen Sandiego? hardcover book. HMH is donating an additional 6,000 copies to classrooms across Miami-Dade County.
"Carmen is a cultural touchstone who needs little introduction--the star of multiple computer games, TV shows and educational resources used at school and at home, the mysterious heroine in the red fedora was inescapable for those who grew up with her," said Caroline Fraser, head of HMH Productions. "We are thrilled to be expanding her story and sharing her with kids today--and reconnecting with their teachers and families as well!"
HMH chief marketing officer Amy Dunkin added that Carmen Sandiego "has always inspired children to learn about, respect and celebrate other cultures, and those values are core to who we are as a learning company here at HMH. Carmen's adventures are an engaging complement to the classroom experience for a new generation of students and their teachers. As a whip-smart, creative and brave Latina heroine, Carmen is a special role model for students who may not often see themselves represented in books and on screen."