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Read for the Record 2025-26

February 26, 2026

Read For The Record

Celebrating 20 Years!

SAVE THE DATE: February 26, 2026

For 20 years, the Literacy Coalition has coordinated municipal leaders, businesses and individuals to make an impact through Read for the Record, an early literacy initiative connecting adults and children through shared reading experiences. Presented nationally by Jumpstart, a national early education organization, and locally by the Literacy Coalition, we are excited to announce our plans for the 20th anniversary year of Read for the Record.

The Literacy Coalition is celebrating the 20th Read for the Record Campaign with Jumpstart and local sponsor PNC Grow Up Great in an extended celebration including Read for the Record Day on February 26, 2026.*

Throughout the celebration, the Literacy Coalition is highlighting 5 books from past campaigns and featuring them in our Read with Me! volunteer program throughout the year. Volunteers can volunteer to read the book and share the activities with kindergarten students:

Oct. 10: The Little Engine That Could
Nov. 14: Llama Llama Red Pajama
Dec. 12: Not Norman: A Goldfish Story
Jan. 16: Thank You, Omu!
Feb. 26*: See Marcus Grow
March 27: Nigel and the Moon

Registration opens soon for the Feb. 26, 2026, Read for the Record Day.

See Marcus Grow, written by Marcus Bridgewater and illustrated by Reggie Brown, is a vibrant picture book that introduces young readers to the wonders of gardening while exploring themes of curiosity, discovery, nurturing and growth. In this story, the young character named Marcus learns from his grandmother in her garden. The book beautifully illustrates the parallel between plant care and human development, sharing the wisdom that both children and seedlings need “water and air and sunshine. And space to grow.”

Marcus Bridgewater, also known as the social media sensation “Garden Marcus”, shows the lessons he learned in his grandma’s garden when he was growing up.

The Literacy Coalition and our local partner, PNC Grow Up Great, have joined Jumpstart’s National Read for the Record campaign again to coordinate locally for thousands of adults to read the chosen book to children across the county on a single day. The Literacy Coalition is working locally with municipal leaders, businesses and individual volunteers to make a huge impact.

Learn More About PNC Grow Up Great

20 Years of Read for the Record Books

2024 Read for the Record Campaign Highlights

1500

Books distributed to Childcare Centers

805

Municipal and Community Volunteers

31,595

Number of Students Read To

210

Elementary Schools and Childcare Center Locations throughout Palm Beach County

19th Read for the Record Campaign Highlights

Thank you to all the municipal leaders and staff who gave their time to support this annual campaign to raise awareness of the importance of early literacy and for taking the time to read. A special thank you is also extended to the League of Cities for serving as our campaign partner and to PNC Grow Up Great for being our presenting campaign sponsor.

40 Children from Atkins Childcare Center in Riviera Beach and the Literacy Coalition’s Glades Family Education Program attended a special event at the Coalition’s Blume Literacy Center with celebrity guest reader, Tania Rogers, news anchor for WPTV 5. Also in attendance was Cindy Pilloni, from PNC Bank and PNC Grow Up Great, our campaign presenting sponsor.

The Village of Wellington was the winner of the Large Municipality category, the Village of Palm Springs was the winner of the Mid-Size Municipality category, and the Town of Lantana was the winner of the Small Municipality category. Thank you to everyone who participated!

The selected book was Piper Chen Sings by Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran, illustrated by Qin Leng. It 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.

2024 MUNICIPALITIES PARTICIPATING:

Small Municipalities

  • Town of Cloud Lake
  • Town of Haverhill
  • Town of Juno Beach
  • Town of Lake Park  —  Honorable Mention
  • Town of Lantana WINNER
  • Town of Loxahatchee Groves
  • Village of North Palm Beach  —  Honorable Mention
  • City of Pahokee
  • City of South Bay

Winner of the Small Municipality Category: Town of Lantana: L to R: Town of Lantana Libray Manager Bailey Maxwell, Town of Lantana Councilmember Kem Mason, Town of Lantana Town Manager Brian K. Raducci, Town of Lantana Mayor Karen Lythgoe, City of Palm Beach Gardens Mayor and League of Cities President Chelsea Reed, Town of Lantana Library Director Kristine Kreidler,  Executive Assistant Maria Rios and Literacy Coalition CEO Kristin Calder.

Mid-Size Municipalities

  • City of Belle Glade
  • City of Greenacres  —  Honorable Mention
  • City of Lake Worth Beach
  • Village of Palm Springs  —  WINNER
  • City of Riveria Beach
  • Village of Royal Palm Beach  —  Honorable Mention

Winner of the Mid-Size Municipality Catagory: Village of Palm Springs: L to R: City of Palm Beach Gardens Mayor and League of Cities President Chelsea Reed, Village of Palm Springs Mayor Bev Smith, Village of Palm Springs Councilmember Kim Schmitz, Village of Palm Springs Councilmember Gary Ready, Village of Palm Springs Vice Mayor Pro Tem Patti Waller, Village of Palm Springs Assistant Village Manager Kim Glas-Castro and Literacy Coalition CEO Kristin Calder.

Large Municipalities

  • City of Boca Raton
  • City of Boynton Beach
  • City of Delray Beach  —  Honorable Mention
  • Town of Jupiter
  • City of Palm Beach Gardens
  • Village of Wellington  —  WINNER
  • City of West Palm Beach  —  Honorable Mention

Winner of the Large Municipality Category: Village of Wellington: L to R: City of Palm Beach Gardens Mayor and League of Cities President Chelsea Reed, former Village of Wellington Mayor and Florida House of Representatives, Anne Gerwig and Literacy Coalition CEO Kristin Calder.

The children and teachers from Atkins Childcare Center in Riviera Beach and the Coalition’s Glades Family Education Program enjoyed a morning of fun at the Boynton Beach Arts and Cultural Center. The children were engaged in book extension activities that enriched their enjoyment of the book, and then they participated in the release of live butterflies at the Center’s Butterfly Garden. Also pictured are Cynthia Pilloni from PNC Bank and PNC Grow Up Great, Tania Rogers from WPTV 5, CEO  Kristin Calder and Coalition staff.

Organizer

Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Phone
561-767-3370
Email
communications@literacypbc.org
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