The Grande Prairie Public Library is trying to get children into reading early. It has launched its Born to Read program which will provide new parents at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital with a book and information about the library. Head of Children and Teen Services at the GPPL Jacob Fehr says reading at an early age can help children later on in life.
“Babies benefit from hearing their caregivers read aloud right from birth. They learn from the sounds and cues around them, which helps them develop a large vocabulary by the time they enter school. Reading together [also] creates a strong family bond.”
The program was created in partnership with the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation and the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie. This year, over 2000 babies born at QEII will receive a copy of Boo Hoo Bird by Vancouver author and illustrator Jeremy Tankard.