Submitted photoChildren and adults are uniting to help break the world record for the most people reading the same book on the same day, known as Jumpstart’s Read for the Record®. Set for Oct. 27, the event highlights the importance of literacy in children’s education. Mississippi Public Broadcasting is calling on adults to register to read by visiting MPB’s website at www.mpbonline.org/readfortherecord. This year’s book is “The Bear Ate Your Sandwich” by Julia Sarcone-Roach. It is the tale of a bear, lost in the city, who happens upon an unattended sandwich in the park. The bear’s journey from forest to city and back home again is full of happy accidents, funny encounters, and sensory delights. According to Maggie Stevenson, MPB deputy executive director for education, when children start behind, they tend to stay behind. Read for the Record Day draws attention to the severe gap in early education readiness — letting people know, getting a conversation started — that is vital to improving the outcomes for kids, Stevenson said.

READ FOR THE RECORD