On Monday, September 28, the city of Waterbury celebrated a milestone years in the making: the launch of Read to Grow’s Books for Babies Newborn Literacy Project at both of the city’s birthing hospitals, Saint Mary’s Hospital and UConn Health Waterbury Hospital.
The celebration marked more than the beginning of a new partnership. It represented a significant moment in Connecticut’s journey to ensure that every baby has access to books and early literacy from the very start of life.
The day’s celebration included a special press conference featuring remarks from Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski and State Representative Bill Pizzuto, along with longtime Read to Grow supporters State Representatives Robin Comey and Dominique Johnson, Kenny Curran, representatives from the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Office of Early Childhood, and the Mayor’s Office of Waterbury.
With the addition of Saint Mary’s Hospital and UConn Health Waterbury Hospital, both of Waterbury’s birthing hospitals are now part of Read to Grow’s Books for Babies program. The Waterbury launches also marked a historic achievement for Read to Grow’s Books for Babies program.
As of September 28, 2026, every birthing hospital in Connecticut is officially partnered with Read to Grow. That means approximately 35,000 babies born in Connecticut each year will receive their very first book through Books for Babies, while their families receive free literacy resources to support early learning at home.
Reaching every birthing hospital in the state is the culmination of a 27-year journey that began when dedicated literacy advocates launched Books for Babies at Yale New Haven Hospital nearly three decades ago. What started as an effort to place books in the hands of newborns has grown into a statewide commitment to early literacy—one that reaches families during one of the most important and formative moments in a child’s life.
From the beginning, Books for Babies has been built on a simple idea: every child deserves the opportunity to grow up surrounded by books, language, and the joy of reading.
Making that vision a reality has required the commitment of countless people and organizations. Hospitals have opened their doors to the program and helped connect books and resources with new families. State and local leaders have championed the importance of early literacy. Community partners and supporters have helped sustain and expand the work.
The achievement celebrated in Waterbury is a reflection of that collective effort. It also demonstrates what can happen when organizations across sectors come together around a shared vision for Connecticut’s children. A book may be small, but the opportunity it represents is enormous: a moment of connection between parent and child, the beginning of a family reading routine, and an early investment in a child’s language and learning.
The day was an opportunity to celebrate both what has been accomplished and what comes next. With Books for Babies now reaching every Connecticut birthing hospital, Read to Grow can focus on deepening that impact and continuing to support families with the resources they need to make reading part of everyday life.
We are deeply grateful to the state officials, hospital teams, community partners, and Read to Grow supporters whose dedication helped make this milestone possible. Together, we’re helping make sure that every child in Connecticut has the opportunity to grow up surrounded by books, language, and the foundation they need to thrive—from the very beginning.
