Read for the Record draws near

The Pearson Foundation and the Volunteer USA Foundation are helping deaf and hard of hearing children take part in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record on October 7. A special American Sign Language (ASL) video of the Ezra Jack Keats’ classic, The Snowy Day, is now available on YouTube and at We Give Books. Keith Wann, a nationally recognized ASL performing artist, has created the video in partnership with the Pearson Foundation and Volunteer USA to ensure that families in the deaf and hard of hearing community can join record-breakers everywhere in showing their support for early literacy.

Now in its fifth year, Read for the Record brings children and adults together to read the same book, on the same day, in homes, schools, and communities everywhere to set a world record. This year, for the first time ever, We Give Books is making it possible for everyone to read the official 2010 Read for the Record Campaign book, The Snowy Day, for free, online. Through We Give Books, the Pearson Foundation has made available an ever-growing library of digital children’s books that is free all year long. In fact, every time you read a book online with a child, the Pearson Foundation donates a book to a child in need.

Like all the children’s books at We Give Books, this special ASL version of The Snowy Day is accessible free of charge. To watch, click here. You can also view Wann’s rendition of last year’s campaign book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, here. Wann will perform a live version of The Snowy Day on October 7 at 10:30 a.m. via stream webcast from the Pinellas Public Library in Tampa, Florida.