Making books and reading part of growing up in Maine
Raising Readers is ending on March 31st 2024. Here’s an FAQ with more information. Want to learn more about other emergent literacy programs coming to Maine? See below.
Reach Out and Read: Like Raising Readers, Reach Out and Read provides books in primary care. Learn more here.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Families can sign up to receive books through the mail every month. Learn more here.
Thank you for your commitment to sharing the love of books and reading with Maine’s children.
3 Million
books given at birth and well-child visits
100%
of children in Maine reached
23 Years
of supporting early literacy
Looking for doctor recommended children’s books?
Our book recommendations are carefully selected by a group of doctors and early literacy experts. Below are the books we’re currently giving out, and you can browse the other 270+ books we’ve selected and given away over the past 22 years.
What we do
Provide books to young Mainers
We give free, high-quality books to every child in Maine, starting at their birth and at each well-child visit through age five. To date, we’ve given away over 3 million books.
Make expert recommendations
Our advisory committee researches and chooses the best books for 13 various age groups, as well as subject specific titles that address adoption, toilet training, nutrition and more.
Share literacy resources
We help parents and caregivers identify and access high-quality resources — including organizations, programs, activities and apps — that support early literacy.
“Raising Readers represents a powerful, statewide action expressly designed to support and empower families in building their children’s literacy. I can think of few things more important than that for the future of our state.”
—Susan Bennett-Armistead Ph.D., Raising Readers Early Literacy Advisor
Our Mission
Children who are introduced to reading at an early age tend to excel at school and are quicker to develop critical learning skills. Raising Readers partners with every hospital, midwife, and primary care provider in Maine to give a library of high-quality books to every child in Maine, starting at birth through age 5.