Who ever heard of a mother who discouraged birthday gifts at her kid’s party?
After Buckhead mom Jennifer Black read about the Atlanta Fulton County Public Library’s Books for Babies program in this paper in September, the invitations to her nine-year-old son’s birthday party asked for donations to the program rather than gifts.
“I’m a regular library user and a huge advocate of children’s reading,” Black said. “Most people made the donation and some brought me money in an envelope, which was nice. I was glad to introduce the program to 20 other people.”
The Books for Babies program provides mothers of newborns at Grady Memorial Hospital with a book bag, a copy of Good Night, Moon and an application for a library card.
Margaret Roach, the volunteer coordinator of the program, said that more than $100 from that birthday party came in – enough for six recipients.
Black said that when she first proposed the idea to son Carson, “he looked at me like I had lost it.
“I said to him, ‘Remember when I read to you when you were a baby? We used to sit on the sofa and read 10 books at a time, and you loved it. If we can get some of these mamas reading to their babies...’ and he said, ‘You’re right. It’s fine, Mom. Everybody needs to be read to.’”
Carson’s younger brother, Sanders, had a smaller party in the fall, and that invitation also encouraged gifts to Books for Babies. Black said older son Thomas, 11, is beyond birthday parties.
But no matter what ages they are, Black said, she still reads to them. “Sometimes we just take turns at night.”
Literacy / Books for Babies:
Atlanta INtown particularly supports efforts to increase local literacy. This year we are proud to support the Atlanta Fulton County Public Library's Books for Babies.
Reading to children from infancy teaches them about the world around them and motivates them to learn to read on their own. Newborns and their mothers at Grady Hospital receive a Books for Babies tote bag which includes:
· a copy of Good Night Moon
· a Books for Babies infant shirt
· tips on reading to infants
· application for a library card
This project is a collaborative effort between
· Grady First Steps to Healthy Families
· The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System
· Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation.
Help us reach more mothers and babies! Make checks payable to:
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation-Books for Babies
One Margaret Mitchell Square
Atlanta, GA 30303
For more information, call 404-730-1963.
Jennifer Black reads to her sons Carson (left) and Sanders. (Photo by LeAnn Shaw)