Very Hungry Caterpillar Day

Since today was -- Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar story to as many kids as you can DAY -- several of our public library branches did readings every half hour, using books, flannel board presentations, the pop-up version, etc. Unfortunately, I was only in my branch a few hours today, so I set up a Very Hungry Caterpillar craft, instead.

Why is today - Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar day?
Two reasons.
1. Because this year is the 40th Anniversary of the first publication of the Very Hungry Caterpillar book.
2. Because today, October 8, 2009, children across the globe read (and were read to) Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar to break a world record for the largest shared reading experience:
To discover more about this event, and to see if they made their goal click here for the Jumpstart: Read for the Record campaign.

Did you participate?
WendieO

(added later)
The librarian coordinating the Read for the Record in our county library system received this letter:
Dear (librarian's name)
Thank you for reading as part of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, presented in partnership with the Pearson Foundation! I’m so happy that you shared Eric Carle’s classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, with a child in your life on October 8!

Together we read to more than ONE MILLION children, breaking the world record once again - but numbers are still coming in!
We will have the final number later this month.
.... (text eliminated)
Thank you again for reading with us and helping us raise awareness for America’s early literacy crisis! This has been an important Campaign for Jumpstart and for children everywhere. I'm thrilled that you were a part of it.
Sincerely,
James Cleveland