Record-breaking event was a blast

On Dec. 13, I was asked to cover Eastside Elementary?s attempt to help break a World Reading Record. Specifically, I was allowed to take pictures and talk to the children in Diane Knowles? third-grade class before, during and after a page of ?Charlotte?s Web? was read.

Recently, I received from Diane a ?Successful Reader Award? for my participation in their attempt. Within the envelope, there were also letters from 11 of the children that were written the very next day. I would like to share them with you.

Joseph writes: Is it easy being a reporter? How old are you? I ask a lot of questions don?t I? Sorry. What channel news are you? How many papers do you write in a week? I want to be a baseball player when I grow up.

Answer: Sometimes it is fun being a reporter. When wonderful things happen, I love writing about them. For instance, what you were involved in Dec. 13. That was wonderful and I enjoyed being a part of it.

I?ll take the fifth on how old I am. Not that it will incriminate me in anything that?s illegal, but it sure doesn?t make me feel good to think about it.

As for the other questions, you won?t find me on any channel. You will find me in the Southern Standard newspaper. We produce three papers a week. I try and write at least 10, or more, articles a week and have something for each paper.

Katie K. writes: Thank you for coming to our class and recording us. We were happy and thought that it was fun reading ?Charlotte?s Web.? I wanna do it again. It was fun. When are you gonna come again?

Answer: I?m glad you had so much fun reading the book. Reading can be a wonderful way to pass the time. When I was young, and even still, I loved to read. You?ll see me again, I promise. Ask your teacher to invite me to your end-of-the-year class party. Just don?t tell her I told you to ask. Pinkie swear.

Rebecca Partain writes: You are cool and very nice. And fun. That is neat.

Answer: Thank you, Rebecca. I appreciate all the wonderful things you had to say about me. But, what you and your friends did Dec. 13 was the neat part. You can be proud that what you did on that day. You helped break a record in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Lane writes that he had fun reading while I was taking pictures and that ?Charlotte?s Web? is a cool book. He can?t wait to see the article in the paper and in the yearbook.

Logan thanks to me for coming to his classroom. He tells me I?m fun and wishes me a Merry Christmas.

Makoy Underwood wants to grow up to be a Navy Seals.

Coby Spicer tells me that what he wrote in his journal was about Wilbur. His favorite part is when Wilbur jumps around the pen.

Dylan wants to be an Army man, a firefighter or a cop when he grows up.

Cheyenne Marsh loves the book and can?t wait to get to do the reading again.

Abby Bouldin enjoyed the day because they got to eat in their classroom and that reading the book was fun.

Katie Furbee wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Personally, I would like to congratulate all the students and teachers at Eastside who participated in the record-breaking event. I would especially like to thank Mrs. Knowles for organizing the event and going above and beyond what it takes to get children excited about reading. Thanks once again for inviting me and allowing me the privilege to be involved in such a wonderful event.

Lisa Hobbs is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].