13th Annual Delray Reads Day
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Presented by The Delray Beach Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
It’s more important than ever to promote the importance of early literacy and providing access to high quality books.
Thirteen Years Running
Delray Reads Day has sparked a community-wide movement around the importance of early literacy. We address the learning loss facing children across Delray Beach and the disproportionate impact on underserved children. We endeavor to promote reading and raise funds to provide new books for every child attending a Delray Beach Elementary School in pre-K, Kindergarten, first and second grade as part of the national program “Read for the Record”.
Celebrating 19 Years
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® brings together millions of adults and children around the world each year to read the same book on the same day in order to raise awareness about the critical importance of early literacy. Sharing high-quality picture books with young children is at the core of Jumpstart’s mission. Each year, Jumpstart selects a campaign book that fosters language and social-emotional development, honors the diversity in our world, has a strong narrative, and appeals to young children.
This year, Jumpstart is celebrating their 19th anniversary of Read for the Record® on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Click here for more information.
Featured Book
Piper Chen Sings
This year’s selection is Piper Chen Sings written by Grammy winner and Tony-nominated actress Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran, and illustrated by Qin Leng.
Piper Chen Sings is a story about a young girl who loves to express herself through singing but is struck with self-doubt and nervousness when asked to perform a solo in front of an audience. Piper tells her Nai Nai that she felt “like butterflies were having a dance party” in her belly; she doesn’t feel she can sing in front of others without making a mistake. Thankfully, Nai Nai teaches Piper that feeling butterflies means “something exciting was ahead” and that recognizing and welcoming that anxious feeling would help it pass. Nai Nai’s advice empowers Piper, who finds her voice on stage.
Phillipa Soo is an actor and singer, best known for originating the role of “Eliza” in Broadway’s critically acclaimed “Hamilton”, which earned her Emmy and Tony nominations and a Grammy win. She has appeared in many other plays and musicals, including “Cinderella”, “Camelot”, “One True Loves”, and “Over the Moon”. She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband, Steven Pasquale. Piper Chen Sings is Soo’s first book.
Maris Pasquale Doran is a licensed social worker who works as a private psychotherapist and as a lecturer at Columbia University. Piper Chen Sings is her first publication. She resides in Maplewood, NJ with her husband and two children.
Qin Leng is a visual development artist in addition to being an illustrator and author of children’s books. Her work has included “A Day for Sandcastles”, “I am Small”, and “Clover”, which won the prestigious Governor General Literary Award. She lives in Toronto with her husband and son.
Event Schedule
Breakfast will be served at each school promptly at 8:30 a.m. After breakfast, readers will proceed to their assigned classrooms by 9:00 a.m. and spend approximately 30-60 minutes in a classroom reading to and talking with students. More details will be provided by your school representative after registration.
We hope you will post pictures of this very special day using #DelrayReadsDay.
Key Sponsors
City of Delray Beach
Delray Beach Public Library
Delray Chamber Education Fund
PNC Bank
Community Sponsors
Achievement Centers for Children & Families
Village Academy
School Breakfast Sponsors
Christina Morrison, P.A., CPM
Kiwanis International
Roots and Wings
John Peters | State Farm
Stuart & Shelby Development, Inc.
Please consider making a contribution to our cause