Born to Read starts new families on way to enjoying books
The Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave., has launched "Born to Read," a new community program that will help educate parents and caregivers about the importance of shared early reading experiences and how those experiences help children develop into successful, lifelong readers.
"Born to Read" helps parents give their children an early start to reading and learning by providing the parents with several fundamental tools.The program offers parents of newborns a free book bag containing several quality children's books, suitable for infants and toddlers, as well as authoritative information on reading readiness and learning development.
"There are pre-reading skills that children can begin to learn from birth," said Joanne Zillman, head of the library's youth services department. "When parents (and others) read to children at a very young age, they begin to develop early literacy skills - learning sounds, rhymes, vocabulary, and more - while enjoying special time with their parents."
Reading readiness information in the book bag includes a list of parent-baby activities that help develop pre-reading skills; a booklet of nursery rhymes, songs, and finger plays; a parent's guide to early literacy; and Mem Fox's "Ten Read Aloud Commandments." Fox is an award-winning, picture book author and educator.The contents of the book bag were selected by a committee comprised of librarians, teachers, and other members of the community. The program was modeled after a similar program that was started in Naperville 10 years ago.
Parents of newborns who live in the city of Batavia, or within the Batavia Public Library District or the Batavia Community School District 101, are eligible to receive a book bag. There is a limit of one "Born to Read" bag per family. Spanish-language book bags are also available. The bags, which have a retail value of $35, are available to families of all income levels.
"Born to Read" was established with money from the library's per capita grant. Zillman and the committee hope the program will become completely supported by donations from community groups and organizations, as well as individual donors. Thus far, Rotary Club of Batavia, Friends of the Batavia Public Library, Batavia Lions Club, the Batavia Mothers' Club, the Wal-Mart Foundation, and private citizens have made contributions in support of the program. To obtain a book bag or to inquire about how you can support "Born to Read," call Joanne Zilllman, (630) 879-4775. Zillman and other committee members distribute the book bags by appointment and offer an informative presentation to organizations interested in learning more about "Born to Read."