Early childhood literacy is a vital building block for healthy development and long-term success. Research shows that reading and language deficits can become fixed as early as age two, underscoring the importance of early intervention, especially for premature and sick newborns who face higher risks of neurodevelopmental delays.
To address these needs, Viral Jain, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, launched the NICU Bookworm reading program in 2021. The initiative encourages families to read with their babies in the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU) and Continuing Care Nursery (CCN) at the Women and Infants Center, as well as the NICU at Children’s of Alabama. The goal is to strengthen parent-infant bonding, reduce stress for families and stimulate healthy brain development through shared reading.
To celebrate the program’s impact and highlight the importance of early literacy, UAB Medicine and Children’s of Alabama hosted the annual Bookworm Day on Wednesday, Aug. 27. This year, special guest Terry Saban joined families and staff to read to some of the smallest patients. In past years, the event has welcomed community leaders such as Senator Katie Britt, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, and U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, each lending their voices to emphasize the value of reading from the very beginning of life.
Reflecting on this year’s event, Jain explained, “This Bookworm Day was particularly meaningful because it included appearances from Terry Saban, Blaze and Big Al. Their presence brought joy to families, created memorable moments and helped boost morale among both parents and staff.”
Since its establishment, the NICU Bookworms program has gained significant popularity among families and continues to expand.
“We now have two book vending machines in our NICUs to make access to books easier and I’m proud to share that the program has also started at UAB St. Vincent’s NICU,” said Jain.
Parents can earn coins for the vending machines by taking part in parent-infant bonding activities. Families also receive books to begin building their home libraries and parents earn decorative circles each time they read, which are placed on the infant’s door to create a growing “bookworm.”
The NICU Bookworm program is supported by book donations from Reach Out and Read-Alabama and Legacy Federal Credit Union. To donate new books, visit the UAB RNICU Wishlist. Additional gifts can also be made to the UAB RNICU and CCN here.