About Maine Reads

Established in 2004 by the Office of the First Lady, Maine Reads is dedicated to the fight for a more literate Maine through meaningful programs that create awareness, raise funds, and encourage collaboration among literacy providers.

The Maine Festival of the Book returns to Portland April 8-11, 2010 with a full day of free programming at the Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine on Saturday, April 10. Stay tuned for event details! In its three years of existence, the Maine Festival of the Book has featured more than 200 authors, including four Pulitzer Prize winners.

The Maine Festival of the Book 2009 was held last April in Portland at the Abromson Center, University of Southern Maine. If you would like to see what Festivals 2007-2009 were about go to Past Festivals or hear recordings of selected festival programs on the Web site of Maine Public Broadcasting Network and Maine Humanities Council. Past presenters include David McCullough, Richard Ford, David Baldacci, Tess Gerritsen, Crystal Zevon, Wes McNair, Brian Wood, Jane Brox, Maxine Kumin, and Elizabeth Strout.

Learn more about the Maine Reads Community Literacy project, a grants initiative offering funding to libraries for community and literacy building.

Learn more about Read With ME., a state-wide literacy outreach program that brings books to every kindergartener in Maine. This year's featured Read With ME. book is A Place to Sleep written and illustrated by Holly Meade of Sedgwick, Maine.