At 6 weeks old, even the smartest baby isn't going to pick up reading. Yet reading stories aloud to young babies is crucial to their future development, says Liz Patterson of Books for Babes Trust. The trust is the only charity of its kind in New Zealand. Trialled as an
Auckland Rotary Project in 1998, the trust is expanding every year - key supporters are Plunket, Auckland District Health Board and Auckland City Libraries The trust now operates in suburbs across Auckland -including Panmure, Glen Innes, Tamaki, Mt Wellington and Sylvia Park. Liz says the trust - which gives five new books to referred families during a baby's first year of life - doesn't only have positive implications for a baby's future literacy skills. ``It's a family bonding thing as well. We offer family support, as well as the books.'' She says last year Auckland families were gifted more than 4000 books from the trust. The books are purchased by the trust, then Plunket nurses and health board visiting therapists and public health nurses deliver them to families. Several language options are available in addition to English including Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island Maori, Fijian and Mandarin. Liz says the trust relies on grants and monetary donations to be able to purchase more books and expand the project into more Auckland suburbs. After the child has completed the programme, the family is introduced to Auckland City Libraries to give them access to a range of opportunities for improving literacy in the home. For more information or to make a donation call 021 252 8720. by Alice Hudson
