National Endowment for the Arts News

First Lady Karen Baldacci: wishing and working for greater literacy in Maine

Jack Baldacci is at a stage in life when reading is not cool, says his mom, First Lady Karen Baldacci.

"He doesn't read as much as I'd like him to read," says Mrs. Baldacci. "Although last year when he read Redwall, he read the whole series, as well as Deltora Quest, which is another series. So he goes through phases of when it's cool and a subject he's interested in, he'll read. Then he'll go through periods of time when he doesn't."


	First Lady, Karen Baldacci with son, Jack.

Mrs. Baldacci says she hopes 13-year-old Jack will learn to love reading for enjoyment and pleasure, as she does. Already Mrs. Baldacci's reading (she is a fan of Tess Gerritsen and John Grisham) and the many literacy projects she is involved with may be leading Jack to become an above-average reader. According to research released by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) last summer, Jack already reads more literature than the average adult in the United States.

In Reading At Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, the NEA reported that less than half the adults in this country read literature. The NEA researchers defined literary reading as reading any novel, short story, play or poetry during leisure time (not for school or work). Out of a survey of 17,000 individuals from a wide range of socio-economic groups, only 46.7 percent read any literature in the previous year — a significant drop from the 56.9 percent of literary readers in a similar 1982 study.

As an educator and parent, Karen Baldacci says she is committed to life-long learning and life-long reading. She is involved in a host of Maine programs to promote literacy in all age groups.

The Raising Readers program gives books to children from birth to age five at their regular medical visits. Once children enter kindergarten, the Read With ME program provides each student with three books by Maine authors. Their parents get tips on reading with their children and a proposed reading list, along with other resources.

Mrs. Baldacci is also involved in a program to reach out to middle school-aged children. Maine Reads' Community Literacy Project began as a pilot program in Augusta last year and is now offering grants to start similar programs across the state. The program surveys students in grades six, seven and eight about what they like to read and then selects books for the students to read together.

"At the end we had a challenge with the children," says Mrs. Baldacci. "They formed teams of four to six kids. They dressed in costume. They drew pictures. Then we had some quick rounds and they had to answer questions. We try to challenge them with their knowledge [of the books]."

For adult readers, Governor Baldacci and Mrs. Baldacci both participate in a similar program called A Capital Read. Last year more than 450 people participated in 20 discussions and other events related to Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. This year, the Baldaccis are inviting Augusta residents to join them in reading Linda Greenlaw's The Lobster Chronicles.

"Reading allows you to grow, to question yourself, to find yourself. My great wish for Jack is that he can become a reader," says Mrs. Baldacci. Judging by her literacy work around the state, it seems Mrs. Baldacci has the same wish for all Maine people.

For more information on literacy programs around the state, please visit www.mainereads.org, www.capitalread.org or www.raisingreaders.net.