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, 18,710 readers came together across our nine counties. This year, we're aiming to hit 20,000. 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 Piper Chen Sings by Grammy winner and Tony-nominated actress Phillipa Soo, Maris Pasquale Doran and illustrated by Qin Leng.
Piper Chen Sings is a story about a young girl who loves to express herself through singing but is struck with self-doubt and nervousness when asked to perform a solo in front of an audience. Piper tells her Nai Nai that she felt “like butterflies were having a dance party” in her belly; she doesn’t feel she can sing in front of others without making a mistake. Thankfully, Nai Nai teaches Piper that feeling butterflies means “something exciting was ahead” and that recognizing and welcoming that anxious feeling would help it pass. Nai Nai’s advice empowers Piper, who finds her voice on stage.
This fall, Success By 6 invites you to meet Piper as she learns to overcome nervousness to pursue the thing in life that brings her joy, singing!
Previous Years of Read for The Record
Contact Us to Learn How You Can Volunteer for Read For the Record!
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Thank you to our guest readers, Diana and Juana Maria Hernandez Torres!
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.
