Kwesi doesn’t know how to swim. Neither does his grandmother.
But they strike a deal.
“I will learn to swim, if you do,” Nana Ruby tells her grandson.
If you want to know the rest of their adventure, you’ll have to read “Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim,” written by Kobina Commeh and illustrated by Bárbara Quintino. The book is one of the titles featured in this year’s Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival.
Read MoreThe Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) is now accepting proposals from playwrights to adapt Oge Mora’s acclaimed picture book Thank You, Omu! into a theatrical production for young audiences. This new commission will be a centerpiece of CMTM’s 2026–2027 season and aims to celebrate Black and Brown voices in children's literature and theatre.
Read MoreAll of these kids have been to local theater programs at one time or another. But the people who run those camps and classes are quick to tell you that they aren’t trying to develop the next child stars. Reba Askari, the theater artistic director at the Children’s Museum and Theatre, said the organization actually doesn’t circulate casting calls even though she hears all the time from people who are looking for young actors.
Read MoreWhile there are several children’s museums that have climbing gyms, tot-scaled supermarkets, and STEAM-inspired tinkering labs, what makes an institution really stand out from the pack is its creative play spaces.
What follows are eight of the country’s best children’s museums—dynamic, sensory-rich spaces that engage and entertain as much as they educate.
Read MoreA favorite pastime for some children is writing plays, often gathering their parents in the living room for theatrical performances or directing their friends in the newest skit at recess. On Saturday and Sunday, the stage got a little bigger for eight Maine children as they saw their plays performed at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
The Youth Playwriting Festival showcased eight stories — four each day — written by children under 17, whose play topics ranged from normalizing the experience of occupational therapy to imagining a unicorn sleepover party.
Read MoreHaving covered nonprofit fundraisers weekly for the past 13 years, I have seen hundreds of auctions where ordinary people raise their hands — and their bid numbers — to protect the organizations and initiatives that matter to them. Never is that impulse stronger than when they feel that something they love, like the Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine, is threatened.
Read MoreThe staff at Victoria Mansion in Portland found out about the loss of federal funding in degrees.
First came the news that President Donald Trump had signed an executive order declaring the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary federal support for libraries and museums nationwide, was “unnecessary.” Then the entire staff of the federal agency was placed on a 90-day leave.
Finally, Timothy Brosnihan, executive director of the mansion, got a short email last week saying the organization’s grant from the IMLS “is no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program.”
Read MoreBANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Over 300 stakeholders gathered at the Cross Center in Bangor for the 2025 Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
Gov. Janet Mills surprised business leaders in the state at the conference with a speech.
“Hopefully, we’ll be successful in attracting high numbers of tourists from all countries including Canada to the state of Maine because we want them here,” said Mills.
Small businesses in Maine account for 99.2% of operations.
Read MoreThe Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine has been notified that a three-year, $224,143 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services has been cancelled.
The Institute's Museums for America funding was awarded in August 2024 to support programming that the museum says, “brings children and families together to learn about community, culture and belonging” and included a focus on the history and culture of the Wabanaki nations.
Read MoreThe Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine says it's lost nearly $225,000 in federal grant funding, meant for live performances connected to Wabanaki history.
The museum says the three-year grant was originally awarded in 2024 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an organization that has been targeted for elimination by President Donald Trump.
Read MoreValentine's Day is right around the corner, and if you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids to celebrate, it's Love Week at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.
It's a week to celebrate love, kindness, and self-appreciation.
In this segment, Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine executive director Julie Butcher Pezzino tells us more about Love Week.
Read MoreAt an event at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine on Tuesday morning, kids talked about what they wish for in 2025.
Read MoreMainers party just a little differently than the rest of the world on New Year’s Eve.
Instead of dropping a ball from a big building in a big city, we drop a wild blueberry from a church bell tower in Kennebunk. Instead of making everyone stay up to the stroke of midnight, we hold some New Year’s celebrations in the afternoon or early evening, so kids and early risers can get to bed on time.
Read MoreOn return trips from her old college stomping grounds of Boston, Nancy Martin, business programs manager for the City of Portland, Maine, knows she is home when the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) comes into view. It is arguably the most prominent venue in a development known as Thompson’s Point, which stands out right off Interstate 295. The peninsula setting symbolizes the natural amenities Maine possesses, while the ground below is a prime example of Portland’s desire to maintain its beauty inside and out.
Read MoreThis week, two guests walk us through all these “Beautiful Blackbird” activities – Jordia Benjamin, Executive Director of the Indigo Arts Alliance and René Goddess, a Portland-based theater artist who is Artistic Director of The Theater Ensemble of Color as well as the director of the stage play edition of “Beautiful Blackbird.”
Read MoreAssembled on a teal cardboard wall is a wide range of children’s artwork: doodles of multiple orange cats, crayon-drawn self-portraits, Acadia National Park depicted in markers, a drawing of a cup of boba tea. While the works vary in style and content, they come together in the mural to create a portrait of the children of the Portland area.
Read MorePortland, Maine, is often associated with the calm coastal and seaside lifestyles. With a lively working waterfront, picturesque lighthouses, and sea glass beaches, it’s never been a better time to plan a trip to Maine.
Read MoreFall in Portland, Maine is a spectacular experience, filled with vibrant colors and a host of activities. September to October is the best time of year to enjoy the magic of fall in Portland, from the scenic coastal views to fun downtown festivities. Stroll through the charming streets of the Old Port, where you can explore local shops and enjoy seasonal treats at cozy cafes. Don’t miss the chance to visit nearby orchards for apple picking or take in breathtaking views on a scenic drive. With local festivals celebrating food, art, and community, there’s fall things to do in Portland, ME for everyone to enjoy.
Read MoreThe Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine received a $200,000 grant that will allow the Portland attraction to launch a multi-tiered marketing campaign to increase awareness among tourists with children.
Read MoreThe Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) has been awarded $200,000 as part of the final round of the Tourism Marketing & Development Recovery Program, announced today by the Maine Office of Tourism. CMTM is one of eight organizations across the state receiving funding.
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