Ontario Books for Babies
RaffiBooks for Babies, a new Durham (Ontario) Region Libraries program, was launched on October 11, 2002 at the Oshawa Public Library. Raffi is a Patron of this initiative, which provides parents of very young children with appropriate books and accompanying activities.
An audience of close to 100 people from the local community attended the event. Speakers included representatives from all three levels of government as well as representatives from the both the Library and Ontario’s Early Years Program.
Bert Simpson, Director of Learning Resources for Troubadour Music, also spoke. Bert brought greetings from Raffi and talked about the natural connection between singing and reading in the early years. That connection is the basis for Raffi’s best-selling Songs to Read© series of children’s books.
Bert pointed out that brain research shows us that singing, reading and cuddling with very young children have a direct positive effect on neurological development. “Other researchers and economists are telling us that for every dollar spent wisely in the early years, many dollars are saved down the road in social, educational and health care costs,” he added. “That being the case, I can’t imagine a better bargain for all of us than books for babies.”