NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
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The Born to Read early literacy initiative in Orillia and area has been giving two new children’s books to each new baby born at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) since March, 2019. Born to Read is a partnership with the Orillia Public Library, OSMH and Manticore Bookstore.
The positive response from new moms includes a recent letter:
"We welcomed our first child, a daughter, on Jan. 12 at OSMH," reads a letter from a local parent. "When we were ready to go home and awaiting our discharge process, our nurse gave us the package containing the two books. What a wonderful surprise after what felt like a long time in the hospital.
"While waiting for the final discharge, Dad read a Sandra Boynton book to his daughter for the first time - a short and sweet story that started our reading routine for us!" the letter writer explains.
"We also got a kick out of the coupon card, allowing baby to ‘ruin’ one book and get a pass. Having moved to Orillia from Toronto during the pandemic, it was great to get information on the Orillia library and feel welcomed to the community," noted the letter writer.
"We truly appreciate the Born to Read program, it was a very special for us to receive and the books are on her shelf and part of the night-time reading rotation."
The Ontario Human Rights Commission, on March 1, 2022, released a report called The Right to Read: Inquiry into Human Rights Issues Affecting Students with Reading Difficulties.
The executive summary states that:
"Everyone wants and needs to be able to read words to function in school and life. The inquiry heard many accounts of people who could not read a menu in a restaurant, read ingredients on a food label, read street signs, play video games that involve reading, search the Internet, look at websites or access other forms of digital media. Becoming fully literate also requires more than just the ability to read words. The ability to understand the words that are read and the sentences that contain these are important for strong reading comprehension."
What can a new parent do to help a child early? Read early and read often. Talking, singing and reading to your child strengthens the existing link among brain cells as well as forming new connections.
These links form the basis of all future learning and intellectual ability. Children’s books often include bright colours, pop-ups and other tactile learning tools so you can stimulate the development of multiple skills at home. Foster a love of reading which gives children a chance to associate books with positive emotions and interests.
Also, get toddlers to the library to look through books, hear books read aloud and choose their favourites to borrow. These activities all help toddlers get excited about reading and open a world of reading to them.
If you would like to donate to this worthwhile local charity, please deliver your donation or send a cheque to the Orillia Public Library c/o Born to Read or email a donation to the library for a tax receipt.
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