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