On October 24, Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD) students and staff joined millions of readers nationwide for Jumpstart’s 19th Annual Read for the Record Day. This year, more than 500 Preschool Academy, Transitional Kindergarten (TK), Kindergarten, and first-grade students united to celebrate early literacy by reading Piper Chen Sings, co-authored by Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran and illustrated by Qin Leng.
This expansion to TK, Kindergarten, and first-grade classes emphasizes the District’s commitment to fostering a love of reading and supporting early language and social-emotional development. Over the past few years, HBCSD's Early Childhood Education team has worked to extend the reach of this program beyond Preschool Academy, ensuring that our youngest learners continue to benefit from this meaningful, shared reading experience. This is a free program, and participating classrooms receive a copy of the featured book to keep in their class libraries, enriching their students' reading experiences throughout the year.
Piper Chen Sings tells the story of a young girl who navigates her fears and finds her voice with encouragement from her grandmother. Themes of overcoming self-doubt, embracing family heritage, and building confidence were central to classroom discussions during this event.
Each year, this event brings together schools, libraries, and communities nationwide, emphasizing the importance of early literacy and access to inclusive, high-quality books. Over the past 19 years, more than 28 million people have taken part in this initiative, which continues to raise awareness of the critical role that early literacy plays in a child’s success.
“Read for the Record is a wonderful opportunity to spark a love of reading in our youngest students. By sharing these stories, we’re building literacy skills and creating a sense of community and joy around books that lasts well beyond the classroom,” said Early Childhood Education Director Dr. Jason C. Reyes.
To learn more about HBCSD’s Early Childhood Education programs, visit our website at www.hbcsd.us/ece.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
