Frisco ISD Libraries are proud to be part of the Books for Babies program which provides a canvas bag with a classic board book and information on the importance of reading to the parents of every baby born at Centennial Medical Center.

Initiated by Frisco ISD Libraries, Books for Babies is a partnership involving FISD, Frisco Public Library, and Centennial Medical Center, with generous support from the Frisco Noon Rotary Club.

The goal of the program is to help create readers in the youngest of our children; and Jim Trelease, author of The Read Aloud Handbook, sums up the program’s philosophy well, “Few children learn to love books by themselves.  Someone has to lure them into the wonderful world of the written word; someone has to show them the way.”

Brett and Ashley Moody, parents of Nicholas, were the program's first recipients on June 8, 2006. An average of 100 new babies born every month at Centennial Medical Center receive the board book and bag.

Affirming the mission of the program, Brett Moody comments, "We have now enjoyed our son for 19 months and are excited by the sudden explosion of words and short phrases. Each night, as we read a few books with him before he sleeps, you can tell that he truly enjoys hearing the stories, pointing at the characters, and connecting with his mom and me. The Books For Babies program encouraged us to begin experiencing these special moments during the first week of his life."

	Claire Rozewicz, Tadlock Elementary student, reads to sisters Sydney and Cate, recipients in the Books for Babies Program. The girls are daughters of Jennifer and Randy Rozewicz.

Jennifer and Randy Rozewicz and big sister, Claire, were twice blessed with the arrival of twins Cate and Sydney. "My husband and I were pleasantly surprised to see the Books for Babies bags after the delivery of our twins.  It was a wonderful gift to bring home with our new additions.  All three of our girls love books, and reading together is a bedtime ritual at our home," writes Jennifer.

In sharing books with their children each day, both families have a head start on nurturing readers. The American Library Association offers further resources, tips for raising readers, and ideas on how to share books with children through their Born to Read program.