The Baby Bee’s First Reads program will continue for another year.
This is a program offered by the Milton Public Library (MPL), with support from the Milton Community Resource Centre (MCRC) and run in partnership with Halton Healthcare.
Last year, it reached over 113 families, providing resources tailored for newborns and fostering a love for stories, language, and imagination from the earliest stages of life.
As part of the program, families welcoming a baby at Milton District Hospital will receive a voucher in their discharge package. This voucher can be redeemed at any MPL branch for a kit that includes a baby’s first library card, a reusable Baby Bee’s First Reads tote bag, the popular book Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?, and a selection of multilingual books in Urdu, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, and French upon request. Families will also find early literacy resources, a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten tracker and growth chart, and information to guide them to additional community supports, including Halton Healthcare’s online Patient and Family Health Information Centre.
Understanding that not all babies are born at Milton District Hospital, kits will also be available for families with newborns who are residents of Milton.
In addition, MPL is enhancing the program this year by adding curated collections of children’s books to the waiting rooms at Milton District Hospital. These collections aim to provide families with access to engaging materials that spark early literacy and create opportunities for shared moments of reading during hospital visits.
“Milton Public Library is so happy to continue this initiative and welcome our newest members to the hive,” says Sarah Douglas-Murray, CEO and Chief Librarian of Milton Public Library. “We’re also incredibly grateful for the support from the Milton Community Resource Centre, which allows us to ensure that families have the resources they need to begin their literacy journey.”
Becky Andrade, Executive Director of Milton Community Resource Centre, emphasized the community impact of the initiative, stating:
“We are pleased to continue supporting Milton Public Library’s Baby Bee’s First Reads Program in 2025. By joining together as a community, we are creating a foundation for early learning that supports children and families as they grow. The Baby Bee’s First Reads program reflects our commitment to nurturing lifelong connections to literacy and learning.”
MPL invites all families to explore the wealth of resources, programs, and initiatives tailored for their growing children.
For more information about the Baby Bee’s First Reads program or to learn how to participate, click here.
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