LITCHFIELD – In many ways, it’s like any book club meeting.

In the comfortable living room, six members sprawl on the carpet or sit in a semicircle of chairs, excitedly discussing the plot of their latest read. They chatter about the main character. They talk over one another, eager to make their points about the lesson in this month’s book.

They all needed help reading it. After all, they’re only 3 to 5 years old.

“It’s fun,” said 4-year-old Emelia Krapovicky.

And she’s not the only one who thinks so.

Created by a Litchfield mother who wanted her younger son to have more fun reading, the area’s Smarter Kids Book Clubs have exploded in popularity.

A year ago, two children started a Smarter Kids Book Club for 6- to 8-year-olds in the Lewiston-Auburn region. Now 50 to 70 children meet every month in four different groups.

“Every time I go, there’s an extra child,” said founder Lisa Beaulieu. “It’s become this huge thing that I didn’t expect.”

‘I’m Terrific’

With so many kids between preschool and high school, the book clubs are broken into groups for ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-11 and 12-16.

“There’s a lot of kids. I get to meet new friends,” said Beaulieu’s 9-year-old son, Ryan, whose group has ballooned from two members to 12.

Like Beaulieu’s three children, most book club members are home-schooled.

“It’s not a requirement. I’m not sure how that happened,” she said.

Every month, each group gets a different classic book, such as “The Little House on the Prairie” or “Blueberries for Sal.” Both children and their parents read the selections.

They also read the books to others. Once a month they go to D’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston to share books with the residents.

Teenagers spend much of their regular book club meetings talking about their books. Younger kids complete projects and show them off for prizes.

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, it was the 3- to 5-year-olds’ turn.

In the living room of a rural family home, six kids and their mothers sat on the floor, in chairs and on the sofa as Beaulieu read “I’m Terrific,” a story about a young bear whose ego gets him in trouble.

The kids, who had already read the book with their parents, eagerly jumped in with their own comments. Often it was astonishment at the bear’s bad behavior.

“That’s not very nice!” shouted 5-year-old Marcus Krapovicky, Emelia’s older brother, when the bear kicked a friend’s acorn pile.

The kids showed off the projects and drawings they made about the book. One little boy covered himself in shiny gold star stickers to copy the book’s main character.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Narnia Krapovicky, who has been bringing her son and daughter to the preschool group since it began last summer. “Anything they want to do for a project is fine. There’s no pressure.”

Life lessons

As a reward for their projects, each member gets to choose a coloring book, a small Lego set or other prize. With giggles and squeals, it can be one of the noisiest times in the two-hour meeting.

Many of the kids get just as excited when Beaulieu hands out the new book for the next month.

To ensure that every child gets a book, the paperbacks are free to members. The club holds fund-raisers to buy them. When the money doesn’t stretch far enough, Beaulieu often pays out of her own pocket.

“The only rule is that you have to be at the meeting to get a book,” said Beaulieu, who once found herself with $163 in leftover paperbacks.

Some parents believe the book clubs have given their kids a newfound passion for reading and a greater network of friends.

Others say their kids leave the meetings with life lessons.

“I think it’s the give-and-take and sharing,” said Krapovicky. “(Beaulieu) has blessed a lot of children.”

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