Read for the Record 2008
The story of Corduroy was read to the St. Francis Elementary students this morning as part of a national effort to set a record for the most people reading the same book on one day.
About 150 students and their teachers heard the Don Freeman story about a teddy bear that gets locked in a department store at night. Elementary Principal Scott Carmichael read the book to the students gathered in the elementary gym.
The national "Read for the Record" event was created by Boston-based Jumpstart, which promotes the importance of early education and family involvement. With statistics showing that one of every three kids enters kindergarten unprepared across the county, programs such as these are important.
On NBC's Today show, host Matt Lauer, First Lady Laura Bush, and Jumpstart spokesman and rapper L.L. Cool J took to the airwaves to promote reading. "Reading is automatically cool," L.L. Cool J. said on the show. "It unlocks your dreams. It's the key to success."
In the skies, American Airlines provided 5,000 copies of the picture book on its flights. Additional readings, such as the one held in St. Francis, were being held around the country. The Pearson Foundation donated 150,000 copies of the book nationwide.
Last year, 250,000 people participated in the event and officials are trying to surpass that number with a projected participation of 400,000 this year said Jumpstart spokesman, John Warner.
