Mayor, County Attorney and Other Local Celebs Will 'Read for the Record' Thursday

Burnsville brass will unite with booklovers all over the country during "Read for the Record" on Thursday, when the book, "Otis" by Loren Long, will be read en masse to young children across the U.S.

The purpose of the event is twofold, say officials at the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191: To encourage literacy-promoting practices and set a new record for the largest shared reading experience.

“Last year’s book was read to more than 2,700 children locally and over 2 million nationally," said Vicki Roy, a former school board member who helped coordinate this year's event. "We hope to beat that number with this year’s event."

The line up of readers at ISD 191 includes Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent Joe Gothard, Burnsville High School Athletic Director Jeff Marshall, BHS mascot Sparky, Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom, and city officials from Burnsville, Eagan and Savage. 

The public is invited to bring their children to readings hosted by the district. The schedule is as follows:

• 9:30 a.m.—Reading at Cliff Fen Park
• 11 a.m.—Reading at Burnsville Center’s Toyota Play Area outside J.C. Penney’s on the first floor
• 2:30 p.m.—A Spanish reading will take place in the lower-level atrium at Diamondhead Education Center
• 2:30 p.m.—Reading at Nicollet Commons Park
• 6:30 p.m.—Evening pajama reads will take place at the Burnhaven Library, the Savage Library and at the District 191 Board of Education meeting.