Raising Readers Celebrates Milestone

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 1 in 3 American kids start kindergarten without the language they need. And, for the last 20 years, the state of Maine has teamed up with local hospitals to reduce those statistics by giving moms a goodie bag, including their baby’s first book, when leaving the hospital or the doctor’s office.

The program is called Raising Readers. It’s a statewide initiative funded by the Libra Foundation, and it’s led by Maine Health in collaboration with Northern Light Health, including Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. Earlier this week, it celebrated a major milestone when it gave away its 3 millionth book

To learn more about Raising Readers, visit raisingreaders.org.