The following article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Stearns, State Representative for District 119.

The Maine State Library is marking Maine’s bicentennial year with the publication of the Maine Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar. The perpetual calendar is designed to assist parents, caregivers, teachers and librarians in creative activities that encourage emergent reading. Thirty-thousand calendars were printed with funding from the Maine Bicentennial Committee, the David Family Foundation and the Maine Community Foundation. The calendar is free and copies are being distributed to libraries throughout the state to give to their patrons. Each month features works from Maine authors and illustrators with a focus on a theme around which books, songs, activities, arts and cultural events, and health and family wellness information are centered. The calendar is an easy to use tool for anyone to work with kids on the five early literacy practices – reading, writing, talking, playing and singing. Copies of the calendar can be obtained at Maine public libraries. If a library has not requested copies or need more, they can make a request through the Maine State Library website: https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/MaineDaybyDayFamilyLiteracyActivityCalendar.htm