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 }

1 Julie September 30, 2009 at 4:27 am: Nancy Drew. Loved her.
2 Julie September 30, 2009 at 4:27 am: I’m a subscriber.
3 Terra Jones September 30, 2009 at 5:30 am: I remember going to the library every weekend and getting a stack of books and devouring them throughout the week
.-= Terra Jones´s last blog ..interesting =-.
4 Terra Jones September 30, 2009 at 5:31 am: I subscribe via Google Reader

thanks!
.-= Terra Jones´s last blog ..interesting =-.
5 Jo September 30, 2009 at 5:38 am: I really loved Judy Blume, from about the age of 6 with the Fudge series, and then into my teen years with her coming of age stories
jceko77@yahoo.com
6 Jo September 30, 2009 at 5:38 am: email subscriber
jceko77@yahoo.com
7 Kim September 30, 2009 at 7:45 am: I’m a subscriber
8 Kim September 30, 2009 at 7:46 am: I really liked the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys books growing up.
9 chrissyb September 30, 2009 at 5:46 am: I remember reading in bed with my mom while she was reading her college books I was reading the cat in the hat.
transamws602(at)yahoo(dot)com
10 chrissyb September 30, 2009 at 5:47 am: Im a subscriber.
transamws602(at)yahoo(dot)com
11 Jessica-MomForHim September 30, 2009 at 6:06 am: I remember making a cozy spot behind the couch to read Black Beauty and Five Little Peppers and How They Grew.
12 Jessica-MomForHim September 30, 2009 at 6:07 am: I’m a subscriber!
.-= Jessica-MomForHim´s last blog ..Walgreens $5/$25 coupon =-.
13 shannon September 30, 2009 at 6:13 am: when my second grade teacher made me take the leap to more lengthy books, i wasn’t too thrilled about it. however, once i started, i didn’t want to stop. thank you, mrs. anderson and thank you, ramona quimby!
14 shannon September 30, 2009 at 6:14 am: i am also a subscriber.
15 Jodi September 30, 2009 at 6:20 am: I remember being excited when the bookmobile would come to school because I had already read all the books in the library!
16 Jodi September 30, 2009 at 6:22 am: I am a follower.
17 Angela September 30, 2009 at 6:22 am: I remember reading Green Eggs and Ham with my parents. I love that book. They probably got sick of reading it!
18 Kristina September 30, 2009 at 6:24 am: I loved reading Nancy Drew books under the tree that was in our back yard!
19 Faith September 30, 2009 at 7:04 am: I remember sitting with my mom while she would read to me. I loved to get lost in the stories while enjoying a little quite time with mom.
20 Faith September 30, 2009 at 7:04 am: I subscribe.
21 Dolli-Mama September 30, 2009 at 7:13 am: I loved baby sitter club book. I hope I win this book. My son recieved this book at our baby shower, but destroyed it recently. He loves books, but is very hard on them, since he is only 2. I don’t want to discourage him from “reading” them himself, so we go through books faster than most.
.-= Dolli-Mama´s last blog ..Fall Family Fun- Trip to Dewberry Farm =-.
22 Nicole Laven September 30, 2009 at 7:16 am: For our birthdays growing up, my Grandparents would give us a subscription to a monthly magazine or book club. My favorites were Highlights and the National Geographic Books for Young Explorers. I loved getting the mail after school anticipating my new read!
23 Nicole L September 30, 2009 at 7:17 am: I am a follower!
24 Jennifer Overy September 30, 2009 at 7:18 am: I would read all the time! But one of my favorites was the first time that I read a chapter book in one afternoon. I curled up on my bed with a mug of hot chocolate and read for hours. Windows open with the cool autumn breeze drifting in. Perfect! Thanks so much for the giveaway, great book!

Jenn
http://thedaysofasahm.blogspot.com
jennifer.overy@mchsi.com
25 Marie September 30, 2009 at 7:50 am: I remember going to the libary and reading Nancy Drew and Judy Blume books. I use to read books all day long.
26 Janet F September 30, 2009 at 7:55 am: My favorite childhood reading memory is me listening to my father read to me.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
27 Janet F September 30, 2009 at 7:56 am: I am subscribed by email.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
28 Janet F September 30, 2009 at 7:57 am: Tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/4498812474

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
29 karisa September 30, 2009 at 9:08 am: i loved the book-it program when i was in school and always loved receiving my coupon for my free pizza hut pizza!
30 karisa September 30, 2009 at 9:09 am: i also am a subscriber via google reader!
31 Daleene September 30, 2009 at 9:12 am: I remember in first grade when we would all gather around the teacher and Mrs. Mathews would read to us. She was my all time favorite teacher!
.-= Daleene´s last blog ..Keebler/Kelloggs Promo at Albertsons + extras =-.
32 Daleene September 30, 2009 at 9:12 am: I am a subscriber!
.-= Daleene´s last blog ..Keebler/Kelloggs Promo at Albertsons + extras =-.
33 Daleene September 30, 2009 at 9:14 am: I tweeted this giveaway here:
http://twitter.com/smiling_mama/statuses/2147483647
.-= Daleene´s last blog ..Keebler/Kelloggs Promo at Albertsons + extras =-.
34 Sunny September 30, 2009 at 9:18 am: My favorite childhood reading experience was having my grandmother read to me. In just about every picture I have of me and grandmother, I am in her lap and she is reading to me. This instilled a great love of reading at an early age. I now read to my daughter, who is 2, every night in hopes to carry on the gift of good books!
35 Sunny September 30, 2009 at 9:19 am: I follow you via email.
36 Sunny September 30, 2009 at 9:19 am: I have added the giveaway on my facebook page.
37 Leigh September 30, 2009 at 9:24 am: Another option is the library. My son has many books but one of our favorite things to do is visit the library. You can find anything at the library and the price is just right.
38 Toni September 30, 2009 at 9:25 am: I loved when the bookmobile would come around. I would get Judy Blume, Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew, then about any books I could get my hands on. I just loved to read & still do.
39 Toni September 30, 2009 at 9:26 am: I am a subscriber via google reader.
40 Summer September 30, 2009 at 9:26 am: My favorite childhood reading memory is reading “Warm Fuzzies” with my mom. This was probably when I was around 7 or so.
.-= Summer´s last blog ..Happy dance =-.
41 Summer September 30, 2009 at 9:27 am: I am a subscriber and I love it!
42 lilshuga2001 September 30, 2009 at 9:37 am: I LOVED Encyclopedia Brown Books! Yay!!
43 Laurel September 30, 2009 at 9:38 am: My favorite childhood reading memory is being read to aloud at the lunch table by my Mom, surrounded by my three siblings.
44 lilshuga2001 September 30, 2009 at 9:39 am: tweet

http://twitter.com/lilshuga2001/status/4501211672
45 lilshuga2001 September 30, 2009 at 9:39 am: subscriber!
46 Hannah September 30, 2009 at 10:08 am: Growing up my mother took my sister and me to the library at the beginning of each summer week. We would each load up on as many books as our arms could carry and spend the week reading…now I’m in school to be a children’s librarian!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..Lately…. =-.
47 jkeller September 30, 2009 at 10:31 am: My favorite childhood reading memory is reading having my parents read to me at bedtime.
.-= jkeller´s last blog ..Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets =-.
48 Frugalistic Mama September 30, 2009 at 12:31 pm: I am and have been a subscriber and a follower
.-= Frugalistic Mama´s last blog ..Read for the Record with Jumpstart! =-.
49 Linda B September 30, 2009 at 10:32 am: I’ve loved to read as long as I can remember. I would rather read than play outside as a child. I read every book I could get my hands on. I lived in a rural area and looked forward to the bookmobile visit each week.
50 jkeller September 30, 2009 at 10:32 am: tweeted
http://twitter.com/StuffSmart/status/4502416024
.-= jkeller´s last blog ..Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets =-.