For 10 years, Raising Readers has provided age-appropriate books to all Maine children at birth and at each well child visit through age five. Books in the home provide opportunities for parents and children to enjoy books together but the story does not end there. Those books are also a resource that can be used in childcare, family literacy, libraries, and other settings.  In 2010 collaborations were established with select public libraries and the state’s network of childcare Resource Development Centers to provide access to Raising Readers books so they can be integrated into services and programming provided by a variety of organizations.   Raising Readers distributes a new collection of 12 books each year. The 2009 and 2010 Collections are now available at the following location. Subsequent collections will be added annually.

Find the Raising Readers Collections at these eight public libraries:

Belfast Free Library

Camden Public Library

Cherryfield Public Library

Paris Public Library

Skowhegan Public Library

Strong Public Library

Thompson Free Library (Dover-Foxcroft)

Waldoboro Public Library  Raising Readers has also produced a series of anthologies of children’s books by Maine authors and illustrators. Copies of each anthology are available at ALL public libraries in the state.

Find library info at: http://www.state.me.us/msl/services/findlibs.htm

The Collections are also available at the eight childcare Resource Development Centers:  Aroostook Community Action Program RDC – Presque Isle Carelink RDC – Sanford Childcare Opportunities – Ellsworth Childcare Options RDC – Farmingdale Childcare Connections RDC – Scarborough Finders Seekers RDC – Auburn Midcoast RDC – Bath Penquis RDC – Bangor  FMI: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/ec/occhs/devcenters.htm

By Meg Haskell BDN

BANGOR, Maine — Sixty-five percent of Maine fourth-graders scored below grade proficiency in reading in 2009. That is better than the national average of 68 percent, and it’s the good news reported by the Maine Children’s Alliance on Tuesday.

The bad news is that this early failure to develop reading skills leads to many problems later in life, including poor school performance and high dropout rates, limited career options — including in the military— low lifetime wages, and low overall quality of life.

“From kindergarten to grade three, a child learns to read and from grade four on a child reads to learn,” said Dean Crocker of the Maine Children’s Alliance, quoting a report released Tuesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

To read the rest of this article, visit the Bangor Daily News at http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/143869.html