KENNEBUNKPORT— Graves Memorial Library’s “Love to Read” book group for students in grades 3 to 5 enjoyed a meeting with the author of “What’s Bugging Bailey Blecker?” Gail Donovan of Portland this past Wednesday.

The “Love to Read” book group meets monthly at the library on an early release day from school.

Children’s Librarian Terri Bauld said the students are given a book to read a month in advance.

“On book group day, I pick up the kids at Consolidated school down the street and we walk back to the library for snacks and discussion about the books.”

This month’s book “What’s Bugging Bailey Blecker?” centers around a subject almost all school students can relate to and have dealt with at one time or another—head lice—and how one girl, Bailey Blecker, is faced with the added challenge of dealing with a reoccurring incidence of the pesky bug and the trials and tribulations associated with it.

The group was pleased to be able to meet Donovan, who is a local author specializing in children’s books for kids ages 7 to 12 and also mother who has experience dealing with head lice with her own children.

Elsa Liberatore, 9, asked Donovan “Why did you write about lice? It’s sort of gross.”

To which Donovan replied “It is yucky, but it happens to a lot of kids, and there is not much to read about it out there. I thought students would be able to identify with how the character was feeling and what she was going through. There is also a science aspect to it, which is interesting.”

Donovan also spoke about other children’s books she has written such as “In Memory of Gorfman T. Frog,” and her most recent book “The Waffler.”

Riley Roberts, 10, asked Donovan where she gets the inspiration for the different books she writes.

Donovan replied “I get inspiration from other books I read and the feeling of comfort I get while reading books. I Iike to bring that comfort that I experience to others in my own stories.”

Donovan offered this advice to budding authors “Keep reading and writing, keep a journal and use it to write down your ideas, and find a writing buddy who shares your love of writing and share your work with each other.”