In an effort to help set a new world record, volunteers across Caldwell County set out Thursday to read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to as many people as possible.

Each year, Jumpstart, a volunteer group that supports early childhood education, organizes a national reading day to support the importance of early development. Events are hosted throughout the country with the goal of setting a new world record for the number of adults and children reading the same book on the same day. This year's goal was to have at least 1 million people reading the same book.

Here in Caldwell County, volunteers strived to reach at least 2,000 children. They visited local schools, area preschools and the staff at the Walmart in Lenoir hosted their very own reading celebration.

"We are one of several sponsors for Jumpstart's Read for the Record campaign this year, and we thought this would be the perfect way to reach out to our community," said Kim Heffner, Walmart store manager. "We wanted children to understand how important reading really is."

Curled up on several bean bag chairs near the front of the store, a handful of children ages 2 and under listened to "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" Thursday morning. Caldwell County Schools Assistant Superintendent for Auxiliary Services Jeff Church went page by page through the book, asking the children all sorts of questions. He asked them to point out various colors and their favorite types of food as he talked about what the caterpillar ate. He also spoke to the children about the importance of reading and encouraged their parents to read to them every day.

"Reading is so important for our children to be exposed to because it gives them a quality start to their education," Church said. "I hope these children, and children across the country, will develop a love for reading at an early age and that it will stay with them throughout their life."

Copies of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" will be available at Walmart through the end of the month. Heffner said stores are competing to see which one sells the most copes of the book. If Lenoir wins the $250 gift certificate, Heffner said she plans on giving that money to local nonprofit organizations.

Jumpstart began in 1993 when two students at Yale University decided that college students could make a difference in the lives of preschool children. In their first year, reports show that 15 college students partnered with 15 preschool children in New Haven, Conn., and it has grown since then. Since 2000, Jumpstart has grown by nearly 30 percent each year, which makes it one of America's fastest growing non-profit organizations.

For more information about this annual program or to find ways to get involved, visit www.readfortherecord.org