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Babies With Books Read-a-thon

2025 Read-A-Thon

Registration is now open for the September 2025 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:

  • Family information on how and why to read in the NICU

  • Healthcare Provider information on NICU reading rationale

  • Suggestions for engaging families and healthcare providers in Read-A-Thon

  • Templated materials to promote Read-A-Thon

  • Templated reading tracking sheets

  • ​Templated data collection sheets

  • 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 
Anchor 1

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

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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

©2025 by Babies With Books

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