The Constellation Campaign
Bring authors and books to 2,000 Maine kids.
By December 31, supporters like you are bringing authors and books to more than 2,000 kids in 25 rural Maine schools. Your gift makes you part of it.
A Bright Spot From this fall
The lobsters were waiting for her when she walked in.
Handmade ones, along with lobster traps, life-cycle projects, reflective writing, and acrostic poems, all made by the 80 students at Perry Elementary School in Washington County, all inspired by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs’ picture book, The Lobster Lady.
Students peppered Alex with questions about her book—how did the Lobster Lady live to be 105 years old? Had Alex ever been out lobstering with her? They shared memories from their recent field trip where they went whale watching. By the end of the visit, Alex had woven their words into a poem they could keep on the wall of their classroom, commemorating their time together.
We call moments like these “bright spots.” And they matter more than ever. In September 2026, Educate Maine reported that Maine’s 4th graders rank 44th nationally in reading, down from second place in 1992.
Your gift brings authors and artists into classrooms and places books in students’ hands and homes.
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More than 2,000children reached |
in 25,partner schools |
over 36,000books provided |
Nearly 20 Years of Bright Spots
For nearly 20 years, friends like you have made bright spots like these possible.
It began when our Founder, Jan Coates, had a simple but powerful idea: every child deserves access to books, creators, and inspiring learning experiences, no matter where they live. A constellation is a story formed from bright spots. You’re one of ours.
Give by December 31
Add your light: bring books & authors to 2,000 Maine children.
Artwork for the 2026 Constellation Campaign was created by author, illustrator & friend of IRW, Jamie Hogan.
