LEWISTON – On May 19, more than 80 community members and more than 80 day care centers, preschools and prekindergarten programs worked together to spread awareness of the benefits of early literacy in the fourth annual “Read Across L-A.”

Community leaders, including Mayor Larry Gilbert, Chamber of Commerce President Chip Morrison, Lewiston School Committee member Jim Handy, as well as principals, teachers and area business people, read books to nearly 1,000 children at local child care sites.

Rochelle Draper, author and illustrator of “The Stone Wall Dragon,” also visited the Lewiston Public Library to read from her own works. She led activities which encouraged children to practice illustrating in their own style.

Research shows that reading to all infants, toddlers and preschool aged children will help them learn to enjoy reading and be better prepared for learning once they enter kindergarten. Reading to children for 20 minutes every day throughout the early years will give them more than 608 hours of preliteracy experience by the time they begin school.