AUGUSTA – First lady Karen Baldacci will kick off the fifth year of Read with ME. on Tuesday.

The statewide Maine Reads program is aimed at improving literacy and reading skills among Maine’s students. Baldacci will unveil this year’s program at a press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the Longfellow School in Portland.

Through Read with ME., every kindergartner in the state has the opportunity to receive a book bag, which includes a copy of this year’s featured book “Dinosaur Stomp,” as well as literacy information, an activities sheet, and a bookmark developed by the Maine Department of Education. Schools have been provided with videos about reading aloud. It was produced by Maine Public Broadcasting.

At the Longfellow School, Baldacci will read “Dinosaur Stomp” to a classroom of kindergartners. She will be joined by “Dinosaur Stomp” illustrator and Peaks Island resident Scott Nash, who will engage the children in an art project.

Recently, Baldacci sent letters to principals in each school in Maine that has kindergarten pupils inviting them to take part in the program. Pupils at those schools who participate will receive the books and literacy information as school opens in September. Last year, Read with ME. reached more than 17,000 pupils statewide.

All of the books and information are provided at no cost to the schools or pupils. Through their support of Maine Reads, the umbrella literacy organization, the Verizon Foundation has supported Read with ME. with a $60,000 grant each year.