World’s Largest Sock Monkey Record set by Cherylle Douglas

Keep your eyes (and a few bananas) peeled for a king-sized monkey visiting the local establishments. Standing eight foot ten, Oscar is the world’s largest sock monkey and he was born right here in Merritt.

Cherylle Douglas says she decided to embark on the sock monkey business as a fun craft project, but then her daughter happened across the current title holders online and asked if she was up for breaking the record.

“I said ‘Well, I don’t know – I’ll try’,” Douglas explains. “I figured Merritt’s the Country Music Capital of Canada – may as well have the world’s largest sock monkey.”

And 52 hours, 30 pounds of stuffing and 32 pairs of wool socks later, Oscar emerged in his full glory – his record-breaking status confirmed by Guinness World Records, Douglas says.

Handmade toys are making a comeback in light of the current economy.

“I think people are looking more at homemade,” Douglas says, adding that children are still having birthdays and Christmas will still come regardless of a recession.

Douglas says that Oscar will be attending local social events, and he’s available for public appearances upon request.

Historically, sock monkeys are given as gifts to bring luck to a newborn baby. Oscar’s tail is 54 inches long, his body is 36 inches in length, his arms 40 inches and his legs 52 inches. He is 47 inches in diameter.+

World Record for Most Children Reading in Multiple Locations in Canada

Libraries in Nova Scotia will join others across Canada in an effort to break a world record in reading to children. The Guinness World Records attempt involves the most children reading with an adult in multiple locations, says a news release from the Western Counties regional library.

The Family Literacy Day world record bid will be held beginning at various times over a 24-hour period between Jan. 23 and Jan. 24.

"The goal is to break the record of 78,791 set in the United States in 2006, by reading to a child for 30 minutes," said the news release.

Adults as well as children will be counted. Library branches in Yarmouth, Shelburne, Clark’s Harbour, Pubnico and Weymouth are all ready to take part. Libraries in Pictou and Antigonish counties are also participating.

"It looks pretty good," Pictou-Antigonish regional library event organizer Kristel Fleurin-Hunter said. "As of today, 121,000 events are registered across Canada. Most libraries in Nova Scotia are participating."

The program is for all ages, and volunteers along with library staff will read from books by Robert Munsch. The books, which must be read in order, are: Pigs; Mortimer; Purple, Green and Yellow; Murmel, Murmel, Murmel; and Something Good.

People are asked to register with their library by Jan. 21.
Family Literacy Day is marked each Jan. 27.
People can find an event in their area or can register to paricipate at home at the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation website familyliteracyday.ca.

Text of the Munsch books will be available on the website, said the library news release.