The Scarborough Public Library and the Maine Humanities Council are launching the Born to Read Family Outreach Program with an appearance by Maine children’s author/illustrator Cathryn Falwell on Saturday, May 10, at 10:30 am at the library, 48 Gorham Road.

Falwell will read her new picture book, “Scoot!” It has received star reviews in Kirkus and the School Library Journal. In the book turtles sit “still as stones” on a log in the middle of a pond. During the reading, children and their families will sit around a whimsical pond created by Falwell as a special feature of the pond is revealed.

Falwell’s book, “Shape Capers,” was distributed to all kindergarten children in Maine in 2007 by the Maine Reads program. Her book, “Turtle Splash,” is a Maine Lupine Honor book and was also chosen as a Raising Readers book in 2005.

Born to Read, the Maine Humanities Council’s early literacy program, was established in 1997 to ensure that Maine’s youngest children are read aloud to daily. In addition to family storytimes, the Family Outreach Program offers literacy training to primary and pre-schools and childc are providers. A provider training session is being offered at the Scarborough Public Library on Thursday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m.

This program is made possible through the support of Target and is free and open to the public. For further information about Born to Read, visit the Maine Humanities Council Web site at www.mainehumanities.org, or call 207-773-5051.

Cathryn Falwell