Read for the Record! (Now Closed)

September 29, 2009 · 80 comments

Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Read-for-the-Record-Jumpstart If you saw my children’s book collection, you might think you were in a library. Thanks to their grandma, a veteran elementary school teacher, they have enough books to keep them reading for years.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for many children.

“Most children in low-income families have very few, if any age appropriate books in their homes. As a result, they miss out on the reading experiences that form the foundation for success in school and life. In fact, each year, one third of America’s children arrive at their first day of school without the skills necessary to succeed. ”

- James Cleveland, President: Jumpstart

Jumpstart, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to childhood literacy, has teamed up with Walmart to encourage everyone to Read for the Record on October 8, 2009.

Mark your calendars, and help break the record for the most people reading the same book on the same day! This year’s selection for the annual program is Eric Carle’s beloved book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

You can pick up a special commemorative copy at your local Walmart for only $8.00 from now until October 8th. All net proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Jumpstart literacy program for low-income preschoolers.

This is a fantastic cause that I am proud to support as a blogger and a mom. Books have been an important part of my life from a very early age. In fact, “book” was my very first word!

Take the pledge to read with your children on October 8th and help reach one million children!

To encourage my readers to read for the record, I have one copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar to giveaway. This is a quick one-day contest, so be sure to enter now.

Congratulations to commenter #16, Kristina!

For a chance to win:

1. Leave a comment below sharing your favorite childhood reading memory (initial entry) If you are reading via email or in a reader, please click through to the post to enter.

For Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each):

2. If you are a subscriber or follower (thank you!), leave a separate comment. You may subscribe for free updates via RSSor email and leave a comment telling me you have done so.

3. For a third entry, share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter

This contest will close on Wednesday, September 30th, at 11pm CST. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted via email. Contest open to US residents only.

Good luck, and thank you for entering and supporting childhood literacy!

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{ 80 comments }

← Previous Comments

1 brandy September 30, 2009 at 10:38 am: Reading chicka chicka boom boom… one of my favorites!!!
2 Shirley Rempel September 30, 2009 at 11:00 am: Fave reading memory would be reading Bible stories with my mom before bed!
.-= Shirley Rempel´s last blog ..Safix Coconut Coir Fiber Scrub Pad – A Review =-.
3 Shirley Rempel September 30, 2009 at 11:00 am: I am a follower!
.-= Shirley Rempel´s last blog ..Safix Coconut Coir Fiber Scrub Pad – A Review =-.
4 Rebecca September 30, 2009 at 11:33 am: I subscribe
5 Rebecca September 30, 2009 at 11:34 am: My favorite reading memories are summer vacations, when I would go to the local library (with my mom) and check our armloads of books and stay up through the wee hours reading. LOVED it and miss reading till whenever…now I am always anxious to get to bed because I am exhausted and have to get up so early.
6 Shay September 30, 2009 at 11:38 am: I know my mom read to me when I was small, but I don’t remember, so my favorite reading memory w/ my daughter is that she memorizes word-for-word many stories. Her favorite story that she memorized is Samson from her Children’s Bible. She told our preacher & he was so impressed that he might do a sermon on it and have my little 4 yr. old tell that story at the beginning of the story! I hope he does, going to video that day for sure!
7 Shay September 30, 2009 at 11:40 am: I subscribe.
8 Shay September 30, 2009 at 11:44 am: Tweeted

http://twitter.com/shayks
9 Jennifer September 30, 2009 at 11:56 am: Reading the Tip books with my parents!
10 Jennifer September 30, 2009 at 11:58 am: I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/jsalazar04
11 Frugalistic Mama September 30, 2009 at 12:33 pm: I shared this on my own blog and being that my face book gets blog updates automatically you can find that here, facebook.com/prudentwisdom.
Thanks so much for sharing this!!
12 Margaret B September 30, 2009 at 12:58 pm: My favorite childhood reading memory was being introduced to the American Girls series. I loved reading every one of them!
13 satya chelluri September 30, 2009 at 1:04 pm: My youngest experience as a reader is reading the daily newspaper in my grandpa’s bed! Miss that experience!
14 Tasha September 30, 2009 at 1:06 pm: Hi Alyssa,
I thought I would share a very generous donation I received for my workplace, I work for our local RCMP Victim Services and 2 years ago one of our local kindergarten classes decided that instead of buying their teachers christmas presents they would donate 1 or more of their “gently used” books to our program and it was a huge success we have a huge selection of children books now for our office. I appreciated this act of kindness so much.
.-= Tasha´s last blog ..Perfect Sunday =-.
15 Jess Y September 30, 2009 at 1:23 pm: Reading favorite books over and over again. I just smile thinking of the dozens and dozens of times I read the Chronicles of Narnia as a child. (Teen and adult, too.) Also the early Grace Livingston Hill books. (I just read what my mom had.)
16 Jess Y September 30, 2009 at 1:23 pm: Follower.
17 Lori S September 30, 2009 at 4:01 pm: My favorite book growing up was “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”

Thanks for the chance to win!
18 Lori S September 30, 2009 at 4:01 pm: Email subscriber.

Thanks
19 Jenny AW September 30, 2009 at 4:32 pm: I can remember a teacher reading to us The Boxcar Children. I couldn’t wait to hear the story each day.
20 Jenny AW September 30, 2009 at 4:32 pm: email subscriber
21 Jenny AW September 30, 2009 at 4:37 pm: http://twitter.com/tuliplvr/status/4510506737
22 errica September 30, 2009 at 5:04 pm: my earliest reading memory as a child would be going to the library for summer time and participating in the summer reading program.
23 Melanie September 30, 2009 at 6:28 pm: I loved reading the Nancy Drew books.
24 Melanie September 30, 2009 at 6:29 pm: I am a subscriber
25 Connie R. September 30, 2009 at 7:47 pm: I used to read Nancy Drew mystery stories with my parents. Precious memories!
26 Connie R. September 30, 2009 at 7:47 pm: I’m an email subscriber.
27 Pam September 30, 2009 at 7:56 pm: I have always loved to read! I remember going to the library when I was small and getting as many books as I could carry and check out. I would have them read usually by the next day.I had a story book that I loved so much, I had to find when my daughter was born. I started reading to her in the womb and would put books in her bed(childproof) and set them up and turn the pages. My son liked the books with the tapes best.I can’t imagine a life without books!Would love to win. Best wishes to all!
.-= Pam´s last blog ..400 Richest Americans =-.
28 Nicolle B. October 1, 2009 at 7:29 am: My fav childhood memory was in school we would read a bunch of books and get free pizza’s to Pizza Hut with the program “book it”. I wonder if they still have it?
.-= Nicolle B.´s last blog ..Free Cookie @ Mrs. Field’s October 1st =-.
29 Nicolle B. October 1, 2009 at 7:30 am: email subscriber
.-= Nicolle B.´s last blog ..Free Cookie @ Mrs. Field’s October 1st =-.
30 Nicolle B. October 1, 2009 at 7:32 am: tweeted http://twitter.com/BabeeLove/status/4525760792
.-= Nicolle B.´s last blog ..Free Cookie @ Mrs. Field’s October 1st =-.