Walmart, Pearson promote reading with Read for the Record program

by Staff Pioneer Times
17 years ago

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Walmart stores around the country joined with Pearson, Read for the Record recently to promote reading in the home and especially with preschoolers. They promoted Eric Carle’s popular book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and the proceeds from this limited edition copy went to support Jumpstart, a national children’s literacy organization. The mission of the Jumpstart program is to ensure that all children in America enter school prepared to succeed.
    Jumpstart has been providing this program since 2006 and have given more than 500,000 books to children who need them. They work with children developing literacy, language and social skills that prepare them for their school experiences.
ImageHoulton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
WALMART DONATES — Walmart Department Manager Lisa Harvey brought enough copies of Eric Carle’s book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” for all students in Pre-k, Kindergarten and Grade One at Wellington School in Monticello. Walmart in partnership with Pearson Reading Program sponsored a fall campaign to promote reading at home. Carle’s special edition book was placed in Walmart stores around the country for a month and any left over after the promotion were then donated to local schools. Hodgdon Elementary’s kindergarten class also received books. Harvey read the book to Wellington students in Nancy Wright’s first grade class.
    The Jumpstart program encourages parents to set aside a time and a special place to read every day. Make it fun, be creative and enjoy the book. Help your child understand new vocabulary words and ask them questions during and at the conclusion of the story to test comprehension. Young children gain more information each time the story is read to them.
    Houlton’s Walmart donated their leftover inventory from this promotion to local school children. Department manager, Lisa Harvey presented students at Wellington School in Monticello with the book and read the story to students in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade. Hodgdon Elementary Kindergarten students also received the book.