“Read With ME.” Celebrates 10th Year
August 18, 2009
Provides Free Books to Maine Kindergartners
AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci and First Lady Karen Baldacci today joined more than 100 volunteers for the annual book bag-assembling project for the literacy outreach program Read With ME. Together, they prepared 18,500 book bags to be distributed to incoming kindergarten students in more than 400 schools throughout Maine, as well as participating homeschoolers. Students at schools that participate will receive book bags – at no cost – after school opens in September.
For the first time, a video of the First Lady reading from the book with the words captioned at the bottom will be put on the Web site of Maine Reads so that children may read along with the First Lady.
“This added interactive feature shows that while technology may have changed, one thing that hasn’t is that books are among the most important tools to a child’s development,” said Governor Baldacci. “Education and literacy are keys to our State’s future.”
The Governor and the First Lady were joined by Maine author and illustrator Holly Meade, of Sedgwick. Meade is the author and illustrator of this year’s featured book, A Place to Sleep.
A Place to Sleep has been specially designed and reissued for Read With ME. to include activities for young readers. Each book bag also includes literacy information and a bookmark developed by the Maine Department of Education and illustrated by Meade. School libraries will be provided with DVDs produced by FairPoint Communications in collaboration with Maine Public Broadcasting. These DVD’s offer tips about reading aloud.
The Governor and the First Lady recognized FairPoint Communications, the underwriter of the Read With ME. Program. Pam Joy, Vice President of Community Affairs for FairPoint Communications, participated in the Augusta Armory event today. FairPoint technicians and members of the Army National Guard are among the volunteers delivering books to the schools.
This year marks the 10th year of Read With ME. The First Lady, a former kindergarten teacher, spearheads Maine Reads, the umbrella organization for Read With ME. Each year the featured book is selected by a committee of educators, parents, teachers, librarians, literacy professionals and authors.
“Countless children have benefited by 10 years of Read With ME. as the books make the rounds within families and through friends. We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of FairPoint Communications, which makes it all possible,” said the First Lady.
For more information about Read With ME., visit www.mainereads.org
