Hometown Hero: Baby Bookworms

In October, Cook Children's Medical Center started a reading program to help babies in the NICU.

Baby Bookworms has volunteers like Pam Gray, who read to the tiniest, most critical babies to help calm them. Reading board books with simple repetitive storylines and sounds help a baby's brain develop. This is especially vital for premature babies who often can't be held yet.

The babies love the interaction, and it helps them thrive. When they go home, the book goes with them so their parents can continue this important developmental skill.  Reading to babies is so important, especially reading to NICU babies.

This year, Cook Children’s estimates it will need 6,000 board books. If you'd like to donate a book or books, these are the suggested titles:

Bear Snores On
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?
Giraffes Can't Dance
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
Hickory, Dickory, Dock
Is Your Mama  Llama?
Little Blue Truck
Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear?
The Gruffalo
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Wheels on the Bus
There's A Bear In My Chair
We're Going On A Bear Hunt

To donate these books, drop them off at Cook Children's Medical Center, Volunteer Services at 801 7th Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas.

To be trained as a Baby Bookworms volunteer reader, call 682-885-7452.