I Like the Sneezing Part!

Raising Readers welcomed over 700 readers to the Children's Museum of Maine last week for an evening of picture book readings, book signings, book character treasure hunts, and an overall grand celebration of families reading together.

There were FABULOUS conversations about books and reading in every corner of the museum.

In the read aloud room, kids were asked how many books Maine doctors had given out. They were asked to think of a REALLY big number. Shouts went up of, "10! 40! 100! 300! 1000!" When we told the gathered kids that there more than ONE MILLION books given away, "woahhh..." was heard throughout the room. It IS a big number to imagine! We agree.

At another point a four-year-old volunteered that she had gotten Bear Snores On (Simon & Schuster) at her doctor's office and that it was "really, really funny." Another kid turned to her and said, "Me, too! I like the part best when the bear sneezes!" Unprompted by their families, other kids chimed in that the sneezing page was INDEED the best. 4-year-old's having a discussion about books--now that gives us job satisfaction!

Our sincere thanks to picture book authors and illustrators, Melissa Sweet (pictured), Cathryn Falwell, Amy MacDonald, and John and Ann Hassett and Lisa Jahn-Clough (she could not come but her sweet Mom did!) for coming to the event and talking and reading to over 700 folks!

(Any 5-year-old who received the picture book anthology, Raising Readers: Stories for Maine Children, will recognize this group of authors and illustrators, because each of their stories appear in this unique collection published exclusively for Raising Readers by Houghton Mifflin.)

Thanks to the staff at the Children's Museum of Maine. We love your mission and adore working alongside you.

More Pictures from the Event

Raising Reader Book Celebration

Join Us...
Raising Reader Book Celebration
Friday, November 7th
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Children's Museum of Maine
142 Free Street, Portland, Maine
All Ages, Best for Birth - Six
Free Admission

As Raising Readers comes into its 8th year with over 1.1 million hardcover books given to Maine children, we will hold the Raising Readers Book Celebration to celebrate another year of families reading together!

At the celebration, children will have an opportunity to meet Maine authors and illustrators, Melissa Sweet, Cathryn Falwell, Amy MacDonald, John and Ann Hassett, and Lisa Jahn-Clough.

(Any 5-year-old who received the picture book anthology, Raising Readers: Stories for Maine Children, will recognize this group of authors and illustrators, because each of their stories appear in this unique collection published exclusively for Raising Readers.)

The authors and illustrators will read from their books and talk with families about their stories and process. Book signings will be held throughout the night. Children are encouraged to bring their copy of Raising Readers: Stories for Maine Children to have each author autograph it.

This anthology will also play a part in the activities for the night. Images from the book will be hidden throughout the museum for young readers to find. Upon finding all of the book images, children will receive a prize from Raising Readers.

Families will also be able to explore and read together in the Raising Reader Book Nook. The Book Nook is a quiet space in the Children’s Museum filled with books in English, Braille, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Farsi and Somali and is sponsored by Raising Readers and MaineHealth.

Pictured: Cathryn Falwell reading SCOOT!

Kindergartners Welcomed to School by Maine Reads

The Raising Readers' staff was thrilled to join 50 other volunteers in Augusta, Maine to help pack over 18,000 copies of The Cat at Night, a classic picture book by Dahlov Ipcar. The book which alternates day and night perspectives shows young readers the things that only cats can see.

Maine Reads' Read with Me program run by First Lady, Karen Baldacci gives a book to every incoming Kindergartner in the state of Maine. Raising Readers is happy to lend a hand to First this wonderful annual book distribution. It is the least the staff can do, as First Lady, Karen Baldacci supports Raising Readers by serving as the chair of our Advisory Board.

The Cat at Night, written and illustrated by Ipcar in 1969, has been out of print for more than thirty years. First Lady, Karen Baldacci found the book while browsing the Maine State Library children's book collection. Islandport Press, a Maine-based independent publisher, was happy to republish this Ipcar book exclusively for Maine Reads.

Maine children are truly lucky. They receive up to 12 books from Raising Readers between the ages of birth and age 5 and when they enter Kindergarten, they are rewarded with yet another wonderful picture book from Maine Reads.

Goodnight, House

Here is the key to the house.
In the house burns a light,
In the light rests a bed,
On that bed waits a book...

While looking for the right books for the program, Raising Readers reviews 100's of picture books and board books. With only 14 books chosen each year to be given to Maine kids, many wonderful books get set aside. We hope to highlight books here that we have truly loved.

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes has the comforting night rhythms of books like Goodnight, Moon and This is the House That Jack Built.

The beautiful black and white illustrations (done on scratchboard by Krommes) are touched with areas of yellow giving nighttime a reassuring warm glow.

The book follows a family inside as the sun goes down and as the child prepares for bed. An open book on the bed leads the child on a magical ride through the night sky. This book is sure to send everyone gently to sleep and subtly promote the magic of stories.

You can always look at Books We Recommend on everything from Bedtime to Rhyme to Toilet Training on our website.

New Book for 6-Month-Olds!

As you may know, Raising Readers changes its book selections every year so that siblings do not end up with the same book.

We just started giving out Baby Says Peekaboo! (DK Publishing) to six-month-old babies at the well-child visits.

Why do we try to always include a peek-a-boo book in the Raising Reader collection? Well, because we are committed to baby's brain growth! There is something in the anticipation a baby feels waiting for a picture to be revealed in a peek-a-boo or lift-the-flap book that stimulates a baby's brain.

When you are reading a peek-a-boo book you can increase the delicious anticipation by repeating the question. For example, "Where is the baby? Do you see the baby? Is the baby hiding?" Then suck in your breath in surprise as you reveal the hidden baby under the flap and say loudly, "Peek-a-Boo!" Laugh with your baby and squeeze your baby as you do this. Doing so will make your baby even more excited to see the next page and lift the next flap!

Story Walk

Raising Readers is thrilled to be working with Tory Rogers, M.D. and Jill Prescott of the Children's Co-op , the folks at Let's Go! to develop the idea and design for Story Walk.

Story Walk allows families to walk alongside a path reading the pages of a picture book--thus combining literacy and physical activity.

We are developing the pilot with Cathryn Falwell's SCOOT! because of all its delicious action words.

Cathryn has created additional action illustrations that show kids how to move like the animals in the story.

Stay tuned for more news on the program. Now scoot, scurry, hurry, your way to the Story Walk Photos.