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 2008 was held in May 15-17 in venues surrounding Monument Square in downtown Portland. More than 50 authors presented and signed during the festival. Featured authors include David Baldacci, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Sutherland, Brian Wood, Ellen Cooney, and Crystal Zevon. Watch for the announcement of dates for next year's festival.

If you would like to see what the Festival 2008 was about, hear recordings of selected festival programs on the Web site of Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

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 The Cat at Night written and illustrated by Dahlov Ipcar.