2008 babies to receive free book

A book is to be issued to every baby born this year as part of a scheme to highlight the importance of early reading.

The book - Humpty Dumpty and other Rhymes– is to be sent in a gift box with a note from the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin welcoming the baby and congratulating the parents.

Almost €400,000 has been set aside for the Babies Love Booksproject, which Ms Hanafin says aims to remind parents that they are in a unique position to encourage the skill of reading in their children "by reading to and with them, from the earliest stages of development".

Addressing an audience of mothers with newborn babies at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin today, Ms Hanafin said: “The world these children are growing up in is full of distractions, such as satellite TV, interactive toys and mobile technology, but every child loves to sit with a parent, open a book, turn the pages and enjoy reading a story together.”

Ms Hanafin said: “The initiative is a reminder to all mothers and fathers of newborn babies that the gift of reading is the most enduring gift that we can give to our young.”

“The book emphasises the importance of sharing rhymes, jingles and poems with babies at an early age as part of their overall cognitive development. Parents who share reading books with their children from the earliest age sow the seeds for lifelong learning - that is truly a gift,” she added.

The gift box contains a short note on how best to read to a baby which is translated into Irish, Polish and French.

The initiative forms part of a €5.5 investment on literacy initiatives by the Department of Education and Science in 2008.