Read for the Record update

Can you imagine your childhood without your favorite stories? Neither can the hundreds of thousands of children and adults preparing to read for Jumpstart's Read for the Record ® Campaign. But the fact is that most children in low income communities have few, if any, age appropriate books in their homes.

For this reason, Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation, sponsor and Founding Partner of Jumpstart's Read for the Record, are working to provide books to children in low-income communities and are raising awareness about this national issue through Jumpstart's Read for the Record. On Thursday, October 2, 2008 readers of all ages expect to break the world record for the amount of children reading the same book on the same day with an adult.

The day kicks-off with an early morning reading event on NBC's Today Show with host Matt Lauer and celebrity guest stars including Jumpstart spokesperson LL Cool J and award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker. Later in the day, actress Gabrielle Union, Shaun Robinson of Access Hollywood, Adam Gregory of 90210 and Lo Bosworth of The Hills will be reading in Los Angeles.

Thousands of events are being planned through grass roots efforts, and official Read for the Record events will take place in major cities across the United States. The campaign will create the world’s largest "shared reading experience" as children and adults read this year's official campaign book, the beloved children's classic Corduroy by Don Freeman.

Anyone can register to read on October 2, get their own copy of Corduroy and donate copies of Corduroy to children in low-income communities. The Pearson Foundation will match each online book donation or purchase and deliver books to children in at-risk communities. Custom editions of Corduroy are also available for purchase through the Hanna Andersson retail stores, catalog, and website. For more information on how to participate, visit the Read for the Record website.