‘Largest book’ completed in Ma’aleh Adumim

MA’ALEH ADUMIM, Israel  (Press Release)–Standing at two meters tall, Israel’s biggest book has been presented to the Ma’aleh Adumim community at a special event marking the close of this year’s seventh annual A.H.A.V.A English Read-a-thon.

The event held at the Eshkol Hapayis (lottery granted community building) in Ma’aleh Adumim was attended by hundreds of schoolchildren who participated in the five week Read-a-thon, along with their family members.

A.H.A.V.A opened this year’s Read-a-thon on January 12 with the unveiling of a two meter tall front cover of a book, entitled ‘The Giant’s Book’ with artwork donated by children’s illustrator Netanel Epstein. Children participating in the Read-a-thon were invited to help complete the book with each child illustrating a different word.

At the event, prizes were awarded to all participants, plus grand prizes for the children who read the most books and to the school whose students read the most number of books.  In addition, other activities included entertainment by a juggler, a raffle and also a storyteller for younger children.

The giant book has 300 words on four panels, and took five volunteers over ten hours to put together. It will now commence a local tour, beginning with the schools where children participated in the Read-a-thon, and then being displayed at the Ma’aleh Adumim municipality and library.

Director of A.H.A.V.A, Gaila Cohen Morrison said: “The event was fantastic and the Read-a-thon has been a great success this year with a record 170 children taking part, 3,400 books read, and 20,500 thousand shekels raised for our Scholarship Fund.

“The time children put into events such as the Read-a-thon give them enthusiasm for improving their English literacy skills.  This helps unlock a world of wider reading for them and opens up important opportunities for them later on in life.”

Mrs. B, whose daughter took part this year said: “The Read-a-thon has been a wonderful tool for my 4th grade daughter. After reading only about 15 books her reading ability has gone up several levels.”

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Preceding provided by A.H.AV.A.