THERE are many firsts for babies, like their first smile, first giggle and first word, but what about their first book?
Wanting to share the magic of Book Week, a group of New Lambton Public School year six library monitors collected and donated 100 books to the maternity unit at John Hunter Hospital.
Every baby born during Book Week, from August 19 to August 25, received their very first book, with 98 babies expected to be born this week based on past averages.
Among the tiny new minds to come into the world this week was little Kenli. At just one day old she received the book Dream Big! by Bodhi Hunter, and her family hope it will be the start of a lifelong love for books, reading and story-telling.
"My partner and I are Indigenous so we wanted to make sure sharing stories was a big part of her life," mother Karen Hudson from Arcadia Vale said.
"We plan to read to her as soon as we get her home. I think the Book Week initiative is really amazing."
Ms Hudson remembers how much she loved the stories of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister and The BFG by Roald Dahl from her childhood and hopes she can share these imaginative moments with her daughter as well. Kenli has a big pile of stories waiting for her at home, with family and friends opting to gift the family books rather than cards at the baby shower earlier this year, each with a message written inside.
"I have seen from Kenli's older sister just how important books and reading can be for children," she said.
"I want to start as soon as possible."
Library monitor Lucy Wood was one of the students responsible for the donation and met with the maternity unit's team to present the books to the hospital.
"It's really important so new families can share special stories, create memories with their new babies and start a love of reading," she said.
The student-led initiative has been running for seven years and the school is very proud to be part of the Book Week campaign.
"The students at New Lambton are exceptional young people who are very civic minded. We value their voice in all school-based decisions and I am extremely proud to know that this wonderful student initiative has originated from our school." principal Justine Abell said.
"I'm extremely proud."
