Emanuel says students met reading goal; Fallon should pick a venue

Posted September 15, 2014 11:00 pm

Associated Press

CHICAGO — Chicago Public School students read 2.7 million books this summer as part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Readers Summer Learning Challenge, officials announced Monday.

The number eclipsed the goal agreed upon by Emanuel and NBC's “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon. The two agreed during a June appearance on the show by Emanuel that Fallon would bring his production to Chicago for several shows if Chicago Public School students read 2.4 million books this summer.

“It's time to pick a venue, Jimmy,” Mayor Emanuel said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for NBCUniversal says it is premature to comment on the students' achievement.

Emanuel's appearance with Fallon was the result of a previous deal between the two men. The mayor agreed to appear on the show if Fallon participated in Chicago's Polar Plunge into Lake Michigan in February.

Fallon took part in the event dressed in a business suit.

The Summer Learning Challenge, funded through the Chicago Public Library Foundation, is designed to keep children engaged in learning over the summer break. Its goal is to prevent the “summer slide,” a documented loss of academic knowledge and skills in kids who don't take part in such summer activities.

Back in March, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Jimmy Fallon in the Chicago Polar Plunge. The mayor agreed to appear on Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show" if Fallon participated in Chicago's Polar Plunge into Lake Michigan. Associated Press File Photo

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