Read for the Record, an event by Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation, seeks to break the world record for the number of people having a shared reading experience in local, one-day events, according to a press release. This year’s attempt was held Thursday.
Suzanne Wood, associate professor and coordinator of Early Childhood Education, said the college participates because it understands “how important it is to start (literacy) early in a child’s life.”
This year’s book, “The Snowy Day,” by Ezra Jack Keats was a winner of the Caldecott award for children’s literature and was originally published in 1962.
Wood said participants from last year voted on what book would be read this year.
At the event, volunteers read the book to the children. However, children also had the option to read the book online on the Jumpstart website.
The event also featured activities based on the book. Children made clay snowmen, paper snowflakes and drew with white chalk on black construction paper. Children could also create a snow scene for a printout of the main character from the book. Each child received a certificate of participation and a coupon for a shaved ice from the truck outside when they left.
The activities for the event were developed by Wood and the Early Childhood Education Club.
Some members of the club volunteered at the event.
“Reading is very important to children,” said Pam Mercer, president of the Early Childhood Education Club. She said the more a child reads the better grades they will get in school.
Freshman Cassie Wilson also volunteered at the event.
“I just love doing things with little kids,” she said.
Wilson had not read the book before the event, but said she wanted to see the children have a good time.
Wood said they would send the children’s participation numbers to Pearson to be included in its final tally of participants. Cleveland State volunteers read to 24 kids, Wood said.
