Welcome!

Welcome back to the raising readers monthly newsletter!

The raising readers website is a wonderful resource for parents, doctors, nurses, daycare providers and anyone else interested in children's books, literacy and health.

Who chooses the raising readers books?

The raising readers Book Committee is made up librarians, daycare providers, doctors, nurses, early childhood education specialists, kindergarten teachers, parents and many others from around the state, who come together once a year to recommend children's books for our program.

Laurie Rose (librarian) and Dr. Collette Sabbaugh (pediatrician)

How are the books chosen?

The Book Committee comes together once a year to review over 80 different books, with the goal of choosing picture books which are age and developmentally appropriate for the well-child visit they are chosen for. Most importantly, the committee tries to choose books that children will want read to them over and over again.

An example of a book that children ask for over and over again is Dog Blue, by Polly Dunbar, which is the book that all four-year-olds in Maine are currently receiving at their 4yr well-child visit. This book includes a fun activity for children on the last page, which is built around the theme of the book.

Each of the books in our current collection are listed on our website under the "Books" section. Just click on a title in our "Current Collection" and you will see the option to read "Why raising readers chose this book" and you can tell us how YOU liked the book under the "Write a Review" section!

We would love to hear how you like the books we distribute to Maine children!