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Explore More Book Guide of the Month: Gather Round

Each month in 2026, we’ll feature one of IRW’s Explore More Book Guides (EMBGs). These freely available guides offer everything you need for a deep dive into a book we love. From author/illustrator biographical information to ideas for writing prompts, art projects, further research & text-to-text connections, our embgs have it all. Our January Explore… Read more

Winter Newsletter 2026

Read our Winter Newsletter 2026 for a letter from our new Executive Director, an update on what our staff has been up to through 2025, a Summer Morning in Maine save-the-date, and more! Winter Newsletter 2026 Read more

Creativity, Connection, and Community on Great Cranberry Island

Two months ago we kicked off the start of IRW’s school season—and what better way to begin than with community, creativity, and a little island adventure! Our first school program of this busy year featured long-time friend and author/artist Kevin Hawkes. Kevin—along with IRW team members Lisa Herrington, Celine Martin, and Courtney Waring—met bright and… Read more

Meet IRW Executive Director,  Courtney Waring!

IRW is delighted to welcome Courtney Waring as our new Executive Director! Read on to get to know her better. How were you first introduced to IRW? I first connected with IRW back in 2018, when I was invited to Steuben to lead some professional development workshops for teachers and host a family story time…. Read more

Behind the Scenes: On the Road with IRW

IRW’s School Programs team travels over 8,000 miles a year within the state of Maine—that’s like driving from New York to Los Angeles, realizing you forgot your phone charger, driving home, only to make the journey again…with a detour through Canada, because of course you missed an exit. But that’s not all! They have authors… Read more

The Power of Presence

IRW’s school program team coordinates every aspect of our author & illustrator visits. But their most important task is simply being present with the kids. Director of School Programs Alison Johnson and Programs Assistant Lisa Herrington visit a lot of classrooms, facilitating more than 50 visits annually within our partner school network of 26 schools. That… Read more