Related Links: About MVNU | JumpStart | Education at MVNU

Organized by Jumpstart, "Read for the Record" is a national reading campaign designed to bring attention to the importance of early education by encouraging thousands of children and adults to read the same book on the same day. This year’s official campaign book is "Corduroy" by Don Freeman, and will be read across the U.S. in schools, libraries, stores, hotels, playgrounds, offices and homes.

From 2-4 p.m., MVNU’s Early Childhood Emergent Literacy class, taught by Dr. Caroline Maurer, will read to New Hope students and then present each child with his/her own copy of the book. MVNU will hand out approximately 150 books to the morning and afternoon classes at New Hope.

"When a teacher reads a story, he/she opens up the world to children. Stories help children connect to others as they share common experiences and help them think about points of view from various perspectives," said Maurer. "In addition, hearing the language of stories develops literacy skills such as building vocabulary; understanding that stories have a beginning, middle and end; and learning about print."

"Participation in this national reading event is a win-win situation for all," she continued. "The Early Childhood students at MVNU practice read-aloud skills and the children of Knox County enjoy a story and take home a book of their very own."

More information about National Reading Day or "Corduroy" can be found at www.jstart.org. To learn more about MVNU's Education program, visit www.mvnu.edu/academics.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults. U.S. News & World Report ranks MVNU in the top 50 Best in the Midwest (Baccalaureate) institutions for the fifth year in a row. With a 400-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and eight additional satellite Adult and Graduate Studies sites throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,500 students from 23 states and six countries/U.S. territories.