Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin kicked off the state’s annual Read to ME Challenge Monday by reading a fanciful book about a unicorn to a school library full of second graders in Old Orchard Beach.

About 50 children sat on the floor as she read the story of “Manolo and the Unicorn,” occasionally inviting them to chime in with animal sounds and helping them understand big words like menagerie.

Although the challenge is for adults to read to children for at least 15 minutes in February, Makin called on the room of mostly 8-year-olds to read to a sibling or grandparent.

“We need big kids like you to read to little kids,” she said at Jameson Elementary School. “Read or tell a story to a younger kid at some point this month.”

For nine years, the state education department has worked to inspire adults to read to children. Makin said Monday that she challenged every member of the governor’s cabinet to participate.

In an interview after the event, Makin said in a world where electronic devices continually demand attention, books are a way to spark imagination and create bonds with children.

“A love of reading is so important to the human experience and a person’s quality of life,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for all of us to slow down and take the time to share in a journey of imagination.”

She said reading aloud has important benefits too.

“Kids have fewer moments nowadays to really imagine because it’s splayed right out there, it’s all on a video,” she said. “And when you hear the words, and the words create the colors and the shapes in your mind, you can create a whole other world. It’s a very magical and beautiful thing for kids.”

Those participating in the challenge are encouraged to take a photo or video and post it to social media using the hashtag #ReadtoME. The department is also encouraging parents or caregivers to ask others to join the challenge.

The challenge is part of the state’s efforts boost child literacy, following a $10 million investment to create and expand pre-kindergarten programs statewide and an additional $10 million in literacy grants.

The grants — announced by the state last month — are designed to help schools develop, expand, and enhance literacy instruction and targeted interventions.

In a statement, Makin described the grants as an “investment in the future of our state.” The grants are designed to provide training for teachers and to buy “evidence-based literacy materials,” according to a department press release.

“The Maine DOE literacy grant is a great opportunity for many districts to reach their goas of all students becoming readers,” said Deb McIntyre, executive director of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association. “Through providing professional development, purchasing additional resources and materials that are focused on research-based literacy strategies, this goal is attainable.”

After Makin finished the unicorn book, one child called out “unicorns are actually real.” They then shared their favorite books, which included those in the Harry Potter series, a book on Magic Johnson and another about rainbow fairies.

Makin then asked the students to pledge to read to someone else.

“There are so many technical and literacy related reasons, but there’s also just sharing the joy of what a book can bring to the human situation,” she said. “Reading aloud to one another shares that.”