What is Read for the Record?
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is the largest shared reading experience in the world, celebrating children’s early language and social-emotional development. Each year, Read for the Record brings together millions of adults and children who read the same book on the same day, building a reading community that spans ages and cultures.
Last year, more than 25,000 readers came together across our nine counties. This year, we're aiming to beat that number. Help us spread the joy of reading throughout West Alabama by signing up for Read for the Record.
What is this year's book?
This year, we're reading See Marcus Grow authored by famous gardener Marcus Bridgewater and illustrated by Reggie Brown. This is a story about a young boy and his grandmother and their experiences exploring her garden and discovering parallels between how plants grow and how humans develop. The story uses the garden as a metaphor to teach themes of curiosity, nurturing, and growth, showing that both seedlings and children need care, water, and space to thrive.
Please join us as a guest reader at one of our local schools or childcare facilities. Contact us below to sign-up!
Contact Us to Learn How You Can Volunteer for Read For the Record!
Please use the form below to contact us.
Thank you so much to Darla Price, Founder of Beyond Education Academy, for serving as our special guest reader this year! Her Co-founder, Cynthia Verna, and her precious students join her in this video. Many thanks to Henry Busby, www.henrybusby.com, for your time and talents.
2024
On October 26th, a total of 25,337 children and volunteers read the children's book, Piper Chen Sings written by Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran and illustrated by Qin Leng.
2023
On October 27th, a total of 18,710children and volunteers read the children's book, With Lots of LOVE written by Jenny Torres Sanchez and illustrated by Andre Ceolin.
2022
On October 27th, a total of 22,239 children and volunteers read the children's book, Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady.
2021
On October 19th, a total of 19,454 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang.
2020
On October 29th, a total of 12,016 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina.
2019
On November 7th, a total of 18,828 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora.
2018
On October 25th, a total of 18,498 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Maybe Something Beautifulby F. Isabel Campoy.
2017
On October 19th, a total of 15,306 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Quackers by Liz Wong.
2016
On October 27th, a total of 13,341 children and volunteers read the children’s book, The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach.
2015
On October 22nd, a total of 11,523 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Not Norman: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett.
2014
On October 23rd, a total of 11,006 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells.
2013
On October 3rd, a total of 6,321 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Otis by Loren Long.
2012
On October 4th, a total of 7,002 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squadby David Soman and Jacky Davis.
2011
On October 6th, a total of 6,681 children and volunteers read the children’s book, Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdany.
2010
On October 7th, a total of 6,831 children and volunteers read the children’s book, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
