English literacy Institute AHAVA has launched its seventh annual read-a-thon by inviting local schoolchildren to help create what is expected to be the biggest book ever made in Israel.
The book, titled “The Giant’s Book,” about a giant who can’t find a book big enough to read, measures almost two meters tall, over one meter wide, and is being made by school children from over 13 schools in Maale Adumim who will be given words to write and design.
Children’s author and illustrator Netanel Epstein has created the front cover for the book which was unveiled at the Nofei HaSelah School in Maaleh Adumim on January 10.
AHAVA is the only nonprofit organization in Israel dedicated solely to promoting English literacy for children. It is working hard to raise awareness of the importance of learning English in Israeli schools from a young age. In 2009, of the total number of Israelis in the 12th grade age group, just 39% matriculated at a level that would enable them to be accepted to university.
Director of AHAVA, Gaila Cohen Morrison, said, “English is crucial for children to learn well at school. It opens up a world of wider reading and opens up opportunities for them later on in life. “We are delighted that Netanel Epstein has designed our giant front cover. By making Israel’s biggest book, we hope to capture the imagination of local school children and to inspire more interest and enjoyment of reading English.”
Gaila added, “Making a giant book does have some logistical questions including where we are going to store this book. We may have to build a giant library!”
AHAVA was founded in 2000 by Gaila Cohen-Morrison, an experienced English teacher and mother of five, who was determined to provide affordable English education to Israeli children. All of the seminars and curricula are based on Cohen-Morrison’s nearly 30 years of experience in the field, having taught over 2,000 students and dozens of educators.
The read-a-thon attracts hundreds of local schoolchildren who are sponsored to read as many short English books as they can over the course of a month, culminating with a community party and award ceremony to be held this year on March 15.
The read-a-thon sponsors include Bank Hapoalim, Steimatsky, Remax, Burgers Bar, Aroma, Maale Adumim municipality, and more.
When completed, the giant book will go on display at the local municipality and around schools in the Maale Adumim area after the read-a-thon finishes mid-February.
For more information about the read-a-thon or AHAVA please contact ahava.org@gmail.com.