It's never too early to start a love for reading in a baby's life.
In fact, research suggests that when parents read one picture book daily with their children, they expose them to approximately 78,000 words per year. By the time a child enters kindergarten, those from homes where reading is valued and encouraged have heard a staggering 1.4 million more words during storybook reading compared to those who have never been read to.
Now, the public has the opportunity to help babies and families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UC Davis Children's Hospital. It's as simple as donating a book.
The UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department is accepting donations for the following books through their Amazon wish list. Due to infection control policies, all books must be brand new.
- Guess How Much I Love You
- The Honeybee
- Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You
- Puppy Love | Amor de cachorrito
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- I Love You Through and Through | Te quiero, yo te quiero
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar | La oruga muy hambrienta
- Goodnight Moon | Buenas noches, Luna
- The Rainbow Fish
- We're Going on a Bear Hunt
- If Animals Kissed Goodnight
- Little Green Peas
- Giraffes Can't Dance
"Reading promotes the development of language skills, supports bonding between baby and caregiver and can help establish routine and normalization of the hospital environment, which is something that is often difficult during a long hospital stay," said Cleo Lacey, NICU child life specialist at UC Davis Children's Hospital. "We are launching this book drive to give every NICU newborn the best start possible."
The goal is to have 200 new board books donated each month so each NICU patient can have their own book and families can take them home.
Purchase a book through the hospital's Amazon wish list.
