World Events

Latin America

Presented in partnership with Pearson, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record kicked off October 8, 2009, on the TODAY show, with NBC’s Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, as well as Mary-Louise Parker, Vince Vaughn, Giada De Laurentiis, Jenna Bush Hager, Tiki Barber, Sonia Manzano, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Stone, and Madison Pettis.

Throughout the day, Pearson people hosted reading events throughout Latin America, and – to get ready for the record-breaking effort – the Pearson Foundation again donated special commemorative editions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (in English, Portuguese, and Spanish) to teachers and preschoolers in communities across the region. This year, the Pearson Foundation also provided copies of the Spanish-language book Un regalo para Kiko to enhance the Read for the Record experience.

Argentina

In Argentina, Pearson people hosted multiple events, including readings at more than 185 schools where children read The Very Hungry Caterpillar in both Spanish and English. Six nonprofit organizations also participated in the program – reaching over 1,800 children from very low income families.

The event in the Province of Buenos Aires was covered by the Argentinean press and attended by local and national education authorities, as well as Pearson executives. Press coverage of this celebration included videotaping a professional storyteller as well as capturing video interviews with the directors of the host school, Diana Repetto and Silvia Kosaruk. This footage will be edited and broadcast to the whole country through Conexión Educativa, an educational channel; and it will also be used by Pearson Education Argentina as an institutional video. In total, more than 11,000 children participated in Read for the Record in Argentina!

Brazil

In Brazil, Pearson people worked with 19 schools to host Read for the Record events on October 8. The Pearson Foundation donated 400 books for the events in Brazil, and more than 2,857 children participated in readings of The Very Hungry Caterpillar – helping to break the world record!

Chile

In Chile, Pearson people worked with the Ministries of Education to help organize events in six state schools and a city library – enabling a total of 650 children to hear the hungry caterpillar’s story from volunteer readers. Pearson people led the readings, and the children were treated to coloring books and crayons after the event.

Colombia

In Colombia, Pearson people hosted events in 22 schools and in the city’s main square in Antioquia, where local authorities including the secretary of education, the press supervisor, and Pearson executives led the reading. Readings were also held in four public libraries in Colombia. The events were covered on local TV – and even by one U.S. television station. The Pearson Foundation donated one thousand books to help make these events in Colombia successful.

Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama

The Pearson Foundation donated 600 copies of The Very Hungry Caterpillar for students in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama. Additionally, more than 600 copies of Un regalo para Kiko by Luisa Villar Liébana were donated to enhance the Read for the Record experience for these excited students.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, more than 600 children participated by reading the classic children’s book Un regalo para Kiko by Luisa Villar Liébana – which were donated by the Pearson Foundation.

Mexico

In Mexico, the Pearson Foundation donated 575 English editions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and 1,500 Spanish editions of the book, so that children could participate in Read for the Record events in the cities of Guadalajara and Tonala. One very special event was held at C.R.I.T. (the Center for Comprehensive Rehabilitation), an organization funded entirely by donations raised through an annual telethon that provides essential services to special needs children. Fifty children at the C.R.I.T., who were clearly without limitations when it comes to imagination, were able to participate in a reading along with their parents and families. Additionally, more than 2,000 children read the classic story Un regalo para Kiko by Luisa Villar Liébana as part of this exciting program.

Peru

Children in villages across Peru participated in Read for the Record this year with the help of 300 books donated by the Pearson Foundation. These Read for the Record events were hosted by local public figures and included post-reading activities for the young participants.

Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record began weeks before October 8, when First Lady Lucé Velo gathered with children in a small reading celebration and videotaped a brief public service announcement about the importance of early literacy. This announcement was broadcast on the government website and on local television to encourage all Puerto Ricans to take part in Read for the Record.

Then on October 8, with the help of the Pearson Foundation every pre-K and kindergarten classroom took part in setting a new world record, using donated books that were distributed through the Department of Education. In San Juan, Pearson people read to the rapt young participants, continuing a tradition from previous Read for the Record campaigns. Four schools gathered together at The School of San Juan for a morning kick-off activity, which included the First Lady of San Juan. Then students read and enjoyed classroom activities.

Uruguay

In Uruguay, Pearson people helped to organize events where more than 500 books were donated to eager children. Read for the Record celebrations were held in eight kindergarten classrooms, and the readings were attended by members of the Ministry of Education and were also supported by the National Reading Programme, the National Library, the Book Chamber, and the Council for Primary Education. The campaign in Uruguay was covered by both national and local press.