SPRINGVALE — Former First Lady Barbara Bush and Owen Wells of the Libra Foundation sat in rocking chairs and read stories Monday to a lot of little children.
The former first lady read about Bob the rooster, who mimicked many barnyard animals before he finally learned to crow.
Wells read about the Little Blue Truck that stopped to help a mired dump truck and found it needed help, too.
The kids, ranging from 2 months to 4 years old, attend First Steps Child Care. Their parents are students in the high school completion program. Both programs are under the helm of Sanford Community Adult Education.
The former first lady is known for her longtime involvement in literacy through the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, and Wells hails from the Libra Foundation, which supplies books to children through its Raising Readers initiative. When the two decided to announce a new collaboration, they chose to stop and visit a program that helps parents and their little ones, too.
It is fair to say that the youngsters probably didn’t know that the white-haired lady asking them if they knew how to “cocka-doodle-doo” used to live in the White House, and they very likely didn’t know the man with the booming voice reading about the blue truck.
One little girl did know how a rooster sounded, though, and demonstrated her ability.
“Atta girl,” said Bush.
At a brief news conference after the story time, Bush discussed her literacy mission.
“So many children don’t have people to read to them, they don’t have books in their homes,” she said.
That is something the Barbara Bush Foundation ”“ along with the Libra Foundation through Raising Readers ”“ is aiming to change.
The latest collaboration between the private foundations involves development of literacy Explorer Kits based on the Raising Readers books in distribution to Maine families, according to news release from Maine Family Literacy Initiative, a program of the Barbara Bush Foundation.
The Explorer Kits, funded by the Barbara Bush Foundation, contain reading tips and developmental information, playgroup ideas for child and parent together time and activities to help parents extend learning at home. The kits integrate the books that families receive from Raising Readers.
She said when her husband, former President George H. W. Bush, left office, he was asked what he didn’t accomplish that he would have liked to have done.
“He said, ”˜strengthen American families,’” said Bush.
Over the years, the Barbara Bush Foundation has awarded more than $4.3 million in grants to 243 Maine communities.
“You feel like you’ve made a small difference in the world,” she said.
Wells called Bush’s efforts a “big difference” and noted the Barbara Bush Foundation’s support of literacy in several states. Raising Readers has distributed more than 1.6 million books to more than 185,000 Maine children. The books are distributed at birth and subsequent well child visits with physicians.
Sanford Community Education is among the Barbara Bush Foundation’s “Lighthouse” model programs that provides outreach to other Maine literacy initiatives.
SCAE director Allen Lampert explained that the parents of the little ones at First Steps are students. Often, he pointed out, a lack of affordable child care is a significant barrier to young people seeking to complete their high school education.
First Steps Child Care director Jessica Regis said the parents were particularly excited that Bush and Wells were coming to Springvale.
“What an amazing day,” said Sanford School Superintendent David Theoharides. “It truly was an honor to have Mrs. Bush visit our First Step Child Care Center. Her commitment and passion around literacy will be her legacy for generations to come. Her efforts have made a significant difference in the lives of our children.”
The Explorer Kits are available for individual parents, family literacy programs and other interested organizations to download on the Raising Readers website at www.raisingreaders.org and on the Maine Family Literacy Initiative website at www.mainefamilyliteracy.com.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be reached at twells@journaltribune.com or 324-4444.
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