Babies With Books Read-a-thon
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Join us this Sept 8-18, 2025 in the sixth annual Babies With Books Read-A-Thon to support NICU families and celebrate shared reading!
The BWB Read-a-thon is a friendly reading competition between NICUs to encourage reading with babies for its many benefits to NICU babies and families. This Read-A-Thon (Sep 8-18, 2025) builds on last September’s event in which 224 NICUs participated and there were a total of 61,054 reading sessions over the 11 day period.
There is no cost to joining this NICU Read-A-Thon and hospitals that cannot provide books to their families can still participate! BWB will provide you with information and suggestions that make hosting a Read-A-Thon easy, fun, and successful.
Participating hospitals receive BWB's Read-A-Thon process guide with step-by-step guidelines for organizing and implementing the read-a-thon. Our guide includes materials and resources such as:
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Family information on how and why to read in the NICU
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Healthcare Provider information on NICU reading rationale
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Suggestions for engaging families and healthcare providers in Read-A-Thon
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Templated materials to promote Read-A-Thon
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Templated reading tracking sheets
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Templated data collection sheets
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Books lists in multiple languages, including easy access to free, online books
Learn more about how reading aloud with babies beginning in the NICU supports infant brain development, promotes family bonding, and reduces stress here.
For questions about the read-a-thon, please contact Benjamin Olshin at benjamin.olshin@babieswithbooks.org.
Past BWB Read-A-Thons
224
NICUs participated
61,054
Reading sessions at each participating NICU
1.56
Average number of reading sessions per infant per day
2024 Read-A-Thon:
192
NICUs participated
51,575
Reading sessions at each participating NICU
1.22
Average number of reading sessions per infant per day
2023 Read-A-Thon:
Winning Hospitals (based on reading rate):
First: Mission Trail Baptist
Second: Good Samaritan Hospital (San Jose)
Third: Winter Haven Women's Hospital
154
NICUs participated
31,879
Reading sessions at each participating NICU
0.86
Average number of reading sessions per infant per day
2022 Read-A-Thon:
Winning Hospitals (based on reading rate):
First: Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center
Second: HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood
Third: Winter Haven Women's Hospital
105
NICUs participated
18,040
Reading sessions at each participating NICU
0.64
Average number of reading sessions per infant per day
2021 Read-A-Thon:
Winning Hospitals (based on reading rate):
First: HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood
Second: Bozeman Health
Third: Trinity Health Grand Rapids
Winning Hospitals (based on reading rate):
First: Rochester General Hospital
Second: Providence Portland Medical Center
Third: Emory Decatur Hospital
2020 Read-A-Thon:
39
NICUs participated
6,140
Reading sessions at each participating NICU
0.61
Average number of reading sessions per infant per day
Winning Hospitals (based on reading rate):
First: Emory Decatur Hospital
Second: University of Vermont Medical Center
Third: Rochester General Hospital
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Read-A-Thon Videos
Read-A-Thon Feedback:
“Families rallied around the chance to start reading with their babies as a way to bond.”
- NICU Nurse
"I loved it! And the babies seemed to enjoy it, too. I noticed they became calm, attentive, and had more regular heart rates and breathing rates when being read to."
- NICU Speech Therapist
"I'm so proud of our entire NICU team for participating in this amazing opportunity to help bring awareness to a crucial and often under recognized topic."
- NICU Medical Director
“This experience reminds me why I love my job."
- Chief Nursing Officer
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Planned future Read-A-Thon dates:
2026
Read-A-Thon: September 14-24, 2026
Midway celebration: Friday, September 18, 2026
Final celebration: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
2027
Read-A-Thon: September 13-23, 2027
Midway celebration: Friday, September 17, 2027
Final celebration: Wednesday, September 29, 2027