LEWISTON — Bess the Book Bus founder Jennifer Frances will distribute new, free books and backpacks Wednesday to students from Gov. James B. Longley Elementary School and other children from the community to celebrate the completion of their first day of school. 

Teachers from the school can also choose a book for their classroom library.

The event will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Big Apple convenience store, 248 Main St. In addition to the books, Frances will distribute free popcorn and balloons to visitors.

Bess the Book Bus is a mobile literacy outreach founded in 2002 in honor of Bess O’Keefe, Frances’ grandmother. For more information on the program, go to: http://www.bessthebookbus.org/about.php