Born to Read Program

Starting life born to read!

In 2019, the Grande Prairie Public Library and the Hospital Foundation came together with the shared goal of promoting early literacy to new parents. Thanks to the generous support of Alliance Pipeline, babies born at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital or delivered by a local midwife will receive their first book.

“Babies benefit from hearing their caregivers read aloud right from birth,” says Jacob Fehr, Head of Children’s & Teen Services at the Grande Prairie Public Library. “They learn from the sounds and cues around them, which helps them develop a large vocabulary by the time they enter school.” Early literacy also has other positive impacts on babies. “Reading together creates a strong family bond,” says Fehr.

Literacy and libraries are important for all ages. For children the Library is a place to explore the world and spark the imagination. For parents, it provides an opportunity to learn and grow – creating empowered parents and community members.

Before leaving the hospital, parents receive a bag containing a carefully selected board book, information about the Grande Prairie Public Library and the Hospital Foundation. The first book chosen was Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard, followed by another from the same series – Hungry Bird.

Do you also believe every child deserves the chance to be read to?