• 2020 Program
    • Gallery of student drawings
  • Past years
  • Pop Up Libraries
  • DARE TO READ
  • Support us
    • Support us with a donation
    • Support us as a volunteer
    • Reading groups for adults
  • Contact Us
  Rosarito Lee | Rosarito reads
Rosarito Lee is a program of Friends of the Library
Español

ROSARITO LEE 2017 now in the history books - read more

Picture
Picture

ROSARITO LEE 2016: successful ending at Palacio Municipal on February 25  - learn more

Copa Panchito Finale... and the winner is..... Ejido Mazatlan!

The video is in Spanish, but you will catch the excitement!

Picture
Winning school - Ejido Mazatlan - with author Francisco Jimenez, raises the Copa Panchito trophy named in the author's honor
Picture
So proud to be winners, their fourth grade team member stretches to write the school name in the "Grand Champion" slot
Picture
Winning team, Ejido Mazatlan, with author Francisco Jimenez and City Councilwoman Fatima Manriquez
The Copa Panchito finale took place with the presence of author Francisco Jiménez, known to thousands of Rosarito children who have read his books as "Panchito."

This was the second annual Copa Panchito, a reading competition, in which students show their knowledge of selected books (three by "Panchito" and one by author Viola Canales), and had the participation of 20 schools this year. Following several elimination rounds, the four finalist teams arrived to compete before an excited audience of over 200 fellow students, teachers, parents, state and municipal authorities and, of course, the author himself.

Also present as guests of honor were several individuals and groups who served as School Sponsors, helping provide the funds to purchase the books needed to allow Rosarito Lee to happen.
​
​The teams arrived very enthused to be in the Finale and to have the opportunity to meet the author whose books they had so enjoyed. The students truly identify with Panchito after "knowing" him through the stories of his life as a migrant child. They greeted him with affection, took photos and sought his autograph. 


The winning school, Ejido Mazatlan, was followed closely by the three other finalist schools - who actually all ended in a three-way tie for second place. These three runner-up schools were El Rosario, Benito Juarez and Colegio Ciudad del Nino Club de Leones. Especially exciting was the "comeback" performance of El Rosario which had lagged behind the other schools in the first two sections of the Finale... but in the Lightning Round came from behind to equal the scores of the other two runner-up schools. 


Copa Panchito 2016, a program of Friends of the Library, also benefitted from the support of the State Education Department (Sistema Educativo Estatal), the municipal government of  Playas de Rosarito and  Hotel Las Rocas.

FOL prepares for Copa Panchito Finale

Picture
FOL volunteers ready the hall for Copa Panchito
Picture
The stage is set!
Copa Panchito
Panchito Cup Competition
LIVE! Remember the College Bowl? This is Rosarito Lee's very own version, for the school children who are participating in our program. 20 school teams are competing this year for the coveted Panchito Cup. First round competition begins on February 9; winners advance to the semi-finals on February 18. The four winners of the semifinals will advance to the finals on Thursday afternoon, February 25 at 2:00 pm.

Please join the audience to cheer the students on! Plenty of seating available. The brackets, schedule and location for each competition are below. Early rounds and semi-finals take place at IMAC Central Library. The Finale is at the Palacio Municipal.

Directions to IMAC Central Library (special directions for 2016 due to street construction in the area)
From Avenida Benito Juarez, turn WEST at DEL ABETO (Comex Paints on west corner and hotel on east corner).
Follow Del Abeto to the end
Turn left
Turn right at first corner
Turn left  at first corner and continue to the end of the street.  There is plenty of parking.  You are now behind IMAC.
​

You can also follow the above directions but turn left at the street just before the above parking.  You are now on the north side of IMAC where there is parking or 
Continue to the corner and turn right.  You are now in front of IMAC.


Directions to Palacio Municipal:
From Avenida Benito Juarez, turn East at the McDonald's intersection (toward the big Comercial Mexican and crossing over the Cuota). Turn right at the light onto Jose Haros Aguilar. The Palacio Municipal will be about 1/4 mile on your left.

Picture
Three of the 20 schools participating in Copa Panchito compete in the first round
Picture

WATCH VIDEO OF OUR GRAN EVENTO 2014

On May 23, 2014, over 3000 children came to the Baja California Center - the amazing new convention center facility in Rosarito/Tijuana - to meet author Francisco Jimenez. He spoke to the wildly enthusiastic crowd, who also heard from Rosarito's mayor, the wife of Baja California's governor, and the head of the Education Department. Medals and trophies were awarded for the best student projects about Jimenez' magical books, Cajas de Carton and Senderos Fronterizos.

And see a gallery of photos from the event...

Buses bring the students
Entering the Convention Center
Buses line the Promenade
Taxis brought some students to the Center
Entering and viewing the maquetas (scale model projects students made to enter a competition among schools)
Students view their maquetas
Beginning to fill the hall
Entertainment by a popular mime, while waiting for the hall to fill
Almost full - eventually there were almost 4000 students, teachers and parents
Excited to be here
The color guard from COBACH arrives
Waiting for Panchito
Flag ceremony
The First Lady of Baja California speaks on behalf of the Governor
Plaque of appreciation for his support
Profa. Martha Xochilt Lopez Feliz, Delegada del Sistema Educativo Estatal (Secretary of Education)
Physical exercise break - very popular!
Everyone joins in
Panchito speaks
Reading his winning letter to Panchito
Plan Libertador librarian and students celebrate their trophies, for 1st Place in Maquetas and also placing in the Mural contest
Maquetas on display
Maquetas
Volunteers helped make it happen.
Their yellow tee shirts were everywhere.

February 10, 2014: Official launch of Rosarito Lee

With Lic. Silvana Abarca, Mayor of Rosarito,  at  Escuela Quinto Municipio, elementary school in the Plan Libertador section of Rosarito
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
MayorAbarca, "Reading is important and fun... it helps us obtain better jobs... it is something you can do every day throughout your whole life. I am proud to declare the program Rosarito Lee officially open."
Picture

  Did you know?
  A UNESCO study found México to be last among 108 countries in reading habits. LAST!
  We want to change that and we know you do too, because people with a love of reading help improve life for everyone in the community.
Picture
Rosarito Lee - 
A CITY-WIDE PROGRAM
in which children and adults read the same books and discuss them
Picture
Picture

Rosarito lee |Rosarito reads

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • A city-wide program
  • 3 books written by Francisco Jimenez plus one by Viola Canales
  • With visits by the author to speak to the children 

Why these books?

  • Winners of more than 25 awards, including Premio de las Américas;  Booklist Editors' Choice; Pura Belpré 
  • Important themes:
  • Education.....family loyalty..... perseverance … hard work .. respect.... honesty..... pride in and love of your culture
Where?
  • Programs in each public library branch
  • Programs in public and private schools
  • Programs to involve the entire family in reading the books
  • Reading groups for adults, including expats​ 
  • Back to Top
  • Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.