A Harris County prekindergarten class won a statewide contest for the most books read in a single day.

The class at Mulberry Elementary School read nearly 500 books in 11 hours last month during "Georgia Reads Aloud Day." In all, classrooms reported reading nearly 14,000 books that day.

The winning class gets a visit from First Lady Sandra Deal and Bobby Cagle, commissioner of the state Department of Early Care and Learning, this Friday starting at noon.

The statewide event was designed to encourage schools and communities to read to children of all ages. Deal said reading to preschool students "helps build stronger relationships, supports basic speech skills and enhances future academic achievement."

Tags: reading, pre-kindergarten, Georgia Reads Aloud Day