The Reading Together Program is a collaboration among the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) Mother/Baby Unit, Rosenberg Library, and the Rotary Club of Galveston. This outreach program provides free baby books, early reading materials, and local community resources for families with newborns at the UTMB Galveston hospital.
Our goal is to encourage early childhood literacy, support family bonding, and help parents introduce reading from the very beginning. The program is made possible through generous support from the UTMB President’s Cabinet Award, Rosenberg Library, and the Rotary Club of Galveston.
Why early reading matters?
- Improves your child’s language development
- Nurtures social-emotional skills that help your child thrive
- Creates meaningful moments to connect and bond
- Helps set the foundation for a lasting interest in books and stories
Tips for reading together with your baby
- Read out loud: Sound out or sing words to help your baby become familiar with language. Books with rhymes and songs are especially engaging.
- Use “Serve and Return”: Observe your baby’s cues and create back-and-forth interactions as you read. To learn more about the “Serve and Return” approach, please visit Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child website
- Engage with the book: Make facial expressions, use hand gestures, and point to pictures and words. Even small actions, like flipping pages, can capture your baby’s attention.
- Make reading easy: Keep age-friendly books within easy reach to encourage frequent reading throughout the day.
- Create a reading routine: Choose a consistent time to read together each day and make it part of your regular routine.
Additional reading and community resources
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Challenge
- Baby Talk Program at the Rosenberg Library (recommended for ages 0-2 years old). Please check out the Rosenberg Library Events Calendar for details.
- SMART Family Literacy: Offers inclusive, hands-on educational programs that support learning in science, math, art, reading, and technology for children of all ages. One signature program is Spot Parties, which are held monthly at The Spot in Galveston and feature engaging book readings, crafts, and music activities for the whole family.
- United Way Born Learning Trails: Visit the Galveston Born Learning Trails at the following locations:
- Adoue Park (710 12th St, Galveston, TX 77550)
- Austin Elementary School (1514 Ave N Ursuline St, Galveston, TX 77550)
- Moody Early Childhood Center (1110 21st St, Galveston, TX 77550)
- Parker Elementary (6802 Jones Dr, Galveston, TX 77551)
- Walter Norris, Jr., Community Center (4700 Broadway Galveston, TX 77551)
- Galveston Diaper Bank: Free diapers and wipes for low-income families in Galveston County
- Galveston Children’s Museum
