Hundreds of children and their parents gathered for what they hope was the world’s biggest story time.
The Fife Big Read may have fallen short of the Guinness World Record of 427 parents reading to their children simultaneously, although final numbers and verification has yet to be confirmed.
Nevertheless, it did help Fife Council promote the benefits of storytelling in the early years.Click here for a full photo galleryFrom weeks-old babies to pre-school children, youngsters and their mums and dads enjoyed three minutes of the popular children’s book Jumblebum.
Free copies of the illustrated rhyming tale of messy Johnny McNess and the Jumblebum beast by Chae Strathie were handed out to everyone who took part in the event, part of the council’s Take Time for A Story campaign.
Chae, who read from his book before the record attempt began, said: “It’s hard to think of a more special time in a child’s day than the shared, loving moments of togetherness that telling a story provide.
“Stories bring people together and increase the bond between parent and child in a way that can only improve your little one’s life.”
Acting minister for children and young people Fiona McLeod joined the fun and said: “As a former librarian I know the importance of introducing children to books at the earliest possible age and I was thrilled to see so many parents teaching their children about reading and stories.”
The council’s head of education and children’s services for early years, Carrie Lindsay, said: “Storytelling with your child boosts brain development and strengthens the special bond between parent and child.”