SILVER CITY – Western New Mexico University adjunct professor of early childhood education Ray Jaramillo has released a new children’s book, Gust, Gust, Gust The Next Beat, a story that celebrates family, culture, and the ways modern technology helps loved ones stay connected.
The new book follows Jaramillo’s earlier publication, Gust, Gust, Gust!, but shifts its focus from the region’s changing weather to the importance of relationships, tradition, and community. The story blends Southwestern cultural themes with contemporary family life, showing how children and families maintain close bonds even when separated by distance.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Jaramillo designed the book to serve as both an engaging story for young readers and a valuable resource for parents and educators. The story emphasizes social-emotional learning while encouraging language development through rhythm, repetition, and interactive reading.
Jaramillo said he believes children’s literature should both reflect a child’s own experiences and introduce them to the wider world.
“Literature for young children should do two things: act as a mirror to validate their own lived experiences, and a window to show them the world,” Jaramillo said. “With this story, I wanted children in rural New Mexico and across the Southwest to feel seen, valued, and connected to their heritage while embracing the changing world around them.”
The book also highlights how traditions continue to evolve while preserving family connections, incorporating modern communication tools such as telehealth and digital technology into everyday life.
Inspired by the landscapes of Silver City and southwest New Mexico, Gust, Gust, Gust The Next Beat is written to be read aloud, encouraging shared reading experiences that strengthen family relationships and promote early childhood development.
Jaramillo plans to host book readings, interactive storytelling sessions, and book signings throughout Grant County in partnership with local schools, early childhood centers, literacy programs, and the Western New Mexico University library.
By: John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications News – John@bravomic.com
