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Woman's Hospital launches new early reading initiative April 15, 2026 4:21 PM in WBRZ By WBRZ Staff BATON ROUGE - New moms at Woman's Hospital will be headed home with their newborns and a handful of books thanks to the hospital's new literacy initiative. Woman's announced Wednesday it's partnering with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Book Harvest to kick off the Books from Birth early literacy initiative. Now, new parents will receive a starter library of 10 new board bo

Today, leaders from Woman’s Hospital, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) and Book Harvest proudly announced the Books from Birth early literacy initiative. This program is designed to empower families by providing newborns and their parents with a starter home library kit to help foster a lifelong love of reading as early as possible.

Memorial Hospital of South Bend is launching Books from Birth this week, becoming the first hospital in Indiana — and the latest across a select group of hospitals nationwide — to send every newborn home with a starter library of new board books.

Our 2025 Impact Report is a celebration of book joy -- of children choosing their very own books, of families snuggling up to read one more story, of a community full of people who believe, fiercely and joyfully, that every child deserves a home library filled with books they cherish.

It was a chilly winter day in 2011. I was feeling a bit nervous, not really sure what I was doing. I entered the waiting room of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service in Carrboro, North Carolina, lugging a bookshelf and grocery bags full of donated children’s books.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Open Books, Open Doors Act to tackle book deserts, and break down barriers to the opportunity and promise of reading for millions of children in the United States. This comprehensive legislation would work to expand equitable access to books in every corner of the country, and close literacy gaps – so every child is positioned for long-term success in school, the workforce, and life.

Events and storytimes offer a special opportunity to connect with our community, bring new families into the space, and infuse reading with a sense of joy and celebration. But most importantly, Book Harvest storytimes don’t end on the last page; they extend into the home. Every attending family and child gets to keep a copy of the featured story to read again and again, building their home libraries with meaningful and memorable titles.

On March 26th, Book Harvest was honored to receive the 2026 James B. Hunt, Jr. Celebrate Literacy Award from the North Carolina Reading Association (NCRA). The award recognizes local North Carolina reading councils, organizations, or individuals for service in promoting literacy among children and adults and in developing reading and writing communities.

We are thrilled to share that Book Harvest is endorsing the Open Books, Open Doors Act, introduced yesterday by Senator Andy Kim (NJ) who believes, as we do, that every child deserves a home library brimming with opportunity and possibility.