BABIES RECEIVE FIRST BOOKS IN HOSPITAL

Every baby born at Southeast Missouri Hospital in November will be given copies of "Goodnight Moon" and "Chicken Soup With Rice" to start their libraries.

The Southeast Missouri Council of the International Reading Association is donating the books and educational pamphlets in recognition of National Children's Book Week, which continues through Sunday.

"The books have been very well received," said Jeanette Christy, RNC, of the obstetrics ward of Southeast Missouri Hospital. "The parents are excited; they like the books very much."

Christy said that the hospital should distribute 120-150 packets this month.

Carolyn Ford, treasurer of the group, said that her organization had planned to disperse books to every child born during the 1992-93 school year, but the chapter's budget simply wouldn't allow it.

One of the books, "Goodnight Moon," was written in 1947 by Margaret Wise Brown, with illustrations by Clement Hurd.

"The book, written in rhyming verse, has withstood the test of time and delights children as much today as it did when it was first published," said Jeanie Dobbins, Reading Recovery teacher leader. "I've read this book a hundred times to my son; it was one of his favorite books when he was a baby."

Funds to assemble the packets are raised through the sale of paperback books at Scholastic Book Fairs like the one scheduled for Friday at the Southeast Missouri University campus.

The Book Fair will spill over to the Southeast Missouri Council of the Arts "Christmas at the Show Me Center" arts and crafts fair, this Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. While parents are browsing among the handmade wares, children ages 3 and up can visit the free "Reading Room," sponsored by members of the International Reading Association.

Local members of the reading organization will donate a hour or so of their time over the weekend to read to the children while their parents are shopping.

Organizers hope that their recent efforts will encourage parents to spend time with their children reading and learning. Early childhood exposure to books and stories has proven to better prepare children for the classroom atmosphere, say organizers.

New parents are given four pamphlets in the donated packet, to help acquaint their child with books and reading by reading along with them; making it a family activity.

"We want to let the community know how valuable we all feel reading to young children really is," said Beverly Strohmeyer, of the Southeast Council on the Arts. "We don't want to be just a reading organization, but one that plays a vital part in the community to improve literacy."