Cool Reading
Grammy Award-winning rap artist and father of four LL Cool J is a spokesperson for JumpStart, a program devoted to building literacy skills in low-income preschool children. October 8 is JumpStart’s annual Read for the Record day, when thousands of kids will enjoy the same book: The Hungry Little Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
Parent & Child: Why did you get involved in the JumpStart Reading Program?
LL Cool J: Literacy is one of the keys to living a good life. It’s important for kids of all levels of income to read more because it gives them a brighter future. Check it out at readfortherecord.org.
P&C: Do you read to your kids?
LL: I read to the younger ones, but they’re all avid readers. It’s a good feeling when I catch one of them with a book.
P&C: Did you read a lot when you were a kid?
LL: Yeah—I grew up in a household full of books, and I know now that they gave me the courage, strength, and wherewithal to go after what I wanted as I was growing up.
P&C: Why is education so important to you?
LL: It gives you the ability to dream the painting and paint the dream. It’s one thing to have an idea, but education gives you the power to execute it.
