Our newly published third anthology, raising readers: Stories for Maine Children pulls together stories from five different Maine authors and illustrators.

With so many talented children's book creators living in the state of Maine, it was not difficult to find five stories that will grow with a child:

Little Dog by Lisa Jahn Clough
Cat Up a Tree by John and Anne Hassett
Rachel Fister's Blister by Amy MacDonald
Carmine: A Little More Red by Melissa Sweet
Feast for Ten by Cathryn Falwell

Published by Houghton Mifflin, this third anthology will make its debute as the special book given to all children in Maine when they attend their five-year check-up. All of these stories make great read-alouds and the anthology will also be a good beginner book when a child learns to read on his own.

On the inside cover of the book is a small card attached to a letter certifying that the child has been “Raised to be a Reader,” which the child can present to his local library in exchange for receiving his first library card.

Library participation is completely voluntary and to date over 90 Maine Libraries are participating.