We did it! On July 15th 2014, 1,438 children broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Largest Reading Lesson, celebrating 25 years of the classic picture book We're Going On a Bear Hunt at Charter Hall in Colchester, Essex UK!
Walker Books and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) hosted the Largest reading lesson starring Michael Rosen, the author of the best-selling picture book.
“What a beautiful day!” for the young brave bear-lovers, all wearing paper bear ears, and enjoying a unique fun-packed Bear Hunt reading lesson, created especially for the occasion.
“We're not scared” as the event was also live-streamed into schools across the UK, making this a national celebration. 100's of schools and nurseries countrywide, totalling over 30,000 children, joined in the live fun Largest Reading Lesson: from Armagh to Birmingham, Caerphilly to Cornwall, Dunbartonshire to Jersey, Staffordshire to Yorkshire and everywhere in-between; and not forgetting the RNIB's Pears Centre for Specialist Learning in Coventry and the RNIB Sunshine House School in Northwood London.
“We really did catch a big one!” said Michael Rosen, “We did it! We broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest Reading Lesson by taking 1,438 children on the biggest ever bear hunt! The response from everyone for the 25th anniversary of We're Going on a Bear Hunt has just been incredible. Thank you to all the schools who took part live on the day and to all those schools and libraries around the country who tuned in live online and enjoyed the fun, thanks everyone for helping to raise much-needed funds for RNIB. We’ve all had a real adventure together.”
The Largest Reading Lesson with We're Going on a Bear Hunt was created by Walker Books and RNIB to celebrate 25 years of the ultimate join-in book with Michael Rosen’s bouncy text and Helen Oxenbury’s warm and funny pictures, including the nearly scary bear; all of which has made it irresistible to children and parents worldwide.
Every child involved in the events countrywide donated £1 to Read for RNIB Day to help open up a world of reading and make more books accessible to blind and partially sighted children.
“Swishy Swashy! Squelch Squerch!” what a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title breaking day!
If you require a copy of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen in audio or Braille, please contact RNIB on 0845 345 0054 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or email fundraising@rnib.org.uk.
