Reading for the record

Teacher Lori Denty, left, read the five Robert Munsch books to her Grade 2 class. Four of her students, left-right, are Cody Strebchuk, Cole Isaac, Trinity Bastien and Brooklyn Dryblak.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Lori Denty’s Grade 2 students enjoyed Robert Munsch’s books so much they laughed, stomped their feet and recited some of the phrases. Denty’s class and the others at High Prairie Elementary School participated in the Munsch Works 2 reading program Jan. 23. With official witnesses in each class, teachers read to their students for 30 minutes. There were 285 readers and students for the program. The five books they read were ‘Pigs’, ‘Mort- imer’, ‘Purple, Green and Yellow’, ‘Murmel, Murmel, Murmel’ and ‘Something Good.’ The school wants to help break the Guinness World Record for Most Children Reading with an Adult, Multiple Locations. The U.S. set the record in 2006, with 78,791 participants, but over 179,000 Canadians were registered Jan. 22. “It was a bit of a rush, so we had to have official witnesses and statements,” says Sherry Clarke, the Computer Technology and Special Education teacher, who organized this event. Munsch had his stories posted on the ABC Canada website, which is hosting the nation-wide event. “He’s a huge proponent of literacy, reading and storytelling,” says Clarke. The school will send its participation data to ABC Canada in early February. This event is also part of National Literacy Day. According to the website, every year Jan. 27, families and communities across Canada celebrate this special day at literacy-themed events coordinated by literacy organizations, schools, public libraries and families. “Besides the thousands of individuals, groups, businesses and families across Canada who have embraced Family Literacy Day, many corporate and media partners have donated time and services to help ABC Canada get the word out about FLD.” The website also says ABC Canada and Honda Canada created Family Literacy Day in 1999 to promote the importance of reading and learning together as a family all year round.

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