Bess the Book Bus visits Maine

: Bess the Book Bus founder Jennifer Frances, right, helps Joy Crockett of Auburn choose books for her 10 grandchildren and foster children during a stop at the Citgo Big Apple on Main Street in Auburn on Tuesday afternoon. “I’m always looking for free stuff to help my foster kids,” Crockett said. Bess the Book Bus was founded in 2002 and is based in Tampa, Fla. Frances said the literacy program will reach more than 25,000 children in 35 states this year. The bus will be at The Big Apple at 118 Main St. in Paris from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday; and The Big Apple on Route 26 in Oxford from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

: People wait in line for popcorn after receiving free books from Bess the Book Bus on Tuesday at The Big Apple on Main Street in Auburn.

: Joy Crockett of Auburn, background, places her book choices in a bag with the help of David Faint as Bess the Book Bus founder Jennifer Frances, left, chooses more titles for the grandmother Tuesday in Auburn. The bus, based in Tampa, Fla., hands out 60,000 to 70,000 free books to children each year.