Many hospitals now give free books to newborns to encourage parents to read to young infants, a practice that has been shown to be beneficial in mental development. Because many parents feel that infants cannot understand what they are being read, they miss the opportunity to read to their babies. By planting the seed that reading is appropriate even to newborns, this misconception can be corrected.

The goal is for every parent leaving the hospital with a newborn to receive a book so they are encouraged to read to their babies and can enhance their children's development through reading.

A member of the Middlesex Coalition for Children first learned of giving books to newborns in the hospital through an article on the internet. She called the local hospital and found that they did not have such a program. She proposed the idea to the hospital auxiliary and they immediately agreed to implement the program. Now every child born at Middlesex Memorial Hospital receives a free book. The current book is Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise-Brown.

The Middlesex Hospital Auxiliary funds the program each year. The Middlesex Coalition for Children purchases the books, puts stickers in them and delivers them to the hospital. The local bookstore, Atticus Books, has recently contacted us about adding their name to our stickers and including a $5 gift certificate for their store to be given along with each book.

The sticker in the books reads:
"This book is a gift from the Middlesex Coalition for Children, Middletown Children First Initiative and the Middlesex Hospital Auxiliary. For information about Early Childhood Reading, call the Children's Coalition at (860) 343-1540; Russell Library at (860) 347-2528; or Literacy Volunteers of Greater Middletown at (860) 347-0337."

With the addition of Atticus Books donating $5 coupons, the program is sure to continue to be well received. This is a great way to support early childhood literacy. It is easy to set up, it is concrete and it is easily funded.

Every new parent gets reinforcement in one of the most positive parenting activities, reading to their children. The community's commitment to this program says to parents at all economic levels that reading is important in the development and ultimate success of their children.