'READ W- ME' Time & Temperature Building Message Celebrates Maine Reads And Literacy In Maine
Mainers in greater Portland might notice that there is a new message flashing atop the Time and Temperature Building - 'READ W- ME.' The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to dedicate the illuminated sign to promote literacy in Maine and the nonprofit organization, Maine Reads.
Kindergartners throughout Maine are receiving a brand new book to start the school year. The books are a gift from Read With ME., an official program of Maine Reads. Since 2000, Read With ME has donated books to more than 19,000 Maine students annually with the goal of improving literacy skills while making reading a fun and interactive experience.
At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we are dedicated to giving back to the communities that we live and work in, and are proud to be a leading corporate sponsor of Maine Reads.
Each year, a committee consisting of parents, educators, literacy professionals, writers and librarians reviews numerous children's books by Maine authors and selects one to be Read With ME's featured book of the year. This year's book is The Very Best Bed, written and illustrated by Rebekah Raye of Blue Hill and published by Tilbury House Publishers of Gardiner.
In the book, Raye's beautiful watercolor illustrations provide the perfect backdrop to a story about a gray squirrel searching for a place to sleep as night falls.
The special edition book that will be donated to students includes activities for young readers and resource materials for parents developed by the Maine Department of Education. In addition, a custom-designed bookmark illustrated by Raye accompanies each book.
Bundles of books are packed and delivered to Maine schools by a group of volunteers that include FairPoint Communications technicians and members of the Maine Army National Guard. The books are provided for free to participating Maine schools and students.
In addition to offering the Read With Me program, Maine Reads also proudly presents the annual Maine Festival of the Book, an annual literacy festival designed to appeal to reading enthusiasts of all ages. The Maine Festival of the Book returns to Portland March 29 - April 1, 2012, with a full day of programming Saturday, March 31 at the Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine. Most events are free.
For more informaiton on Maine Reads and its variety of literacy programs, please visit: www.mainereads.org.
