KOLOA — One book. One day. The goal of the Jumpstart’s Read for the Record was to try and break the world record for the largest shared reading experience with the most children reading the same book on the same
KOLOA — One book. One day.
The goal of the Jumpstart’s Read for the Record was to try and break the world record for the largest shared reading experience with the most children reading the same book on the same day, Thursday.
Doug Sears, general manager of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa, joined this national effort as he arrived with a copy of “Corduroy” at Koloa Early School.
He was not alone as another car pulled up with a character in green overalls that was obviously missing a button.
More Hyatt associates gathered, some hefting trays containing snack items for the preschool children, others bearing boxes containing more gifts.
One of those gifts was special edition copies of “Corduroy,” one for each child and teacher at the Koloa Early School.
Corduroy, the main character in the book penned by Don Freeman and published by Penguin Young Readers Group, discovers that his aged overalls and missing button is the reason why he hasn’t been adopted.
That sets him out in search of the missing button, experiencing a variety of adventures in the expanse of a large department store.
After Lisa, the heroine in the book, adopts the bear and sews on the missing button, students in the Koloa Early School quizzically turned as the silhouette of Corduroy filled the doorway to the preschool. Hyatt staff were dressed as life-sized characters from the book, Corduroy and Lisa, and met with the students.
“Jumpstart’s Read for the Record provides a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of reading in preparing children for success in school,” Sears said.
Staff from other Hyatt locations across the country also participated in the event.
Jumpstart, a national nonprofit focused on intervening early in the lives of at-risk children, created the campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of early education. Jumpstart programs serve preschool children from low-income communities across 20 states.
For more information on Jumpstart, visit www.jstart.org
