As infants and toddlers shrieked, squealed and shook their rattles Wednesday morning, Chirlane McCray, the First Lady of New York, read aloud “Love Is,” at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library in Grand Army Plaza in efforts to promote her new campaign “Talk To Your Baby, Their Brain Depends On It.”
The children’s book was inspired and edited by McCray for Scholastic, which published and printed 200,000 copies that will be distributed for free amongst libraries in Brooklyn, New York City and Queens, health providers, city agencies and child services. The book features real New York families, with caregivers that range from different ages, to ethnicities, to same-sex couples.
Deputy Mayor Richard Buery was next up to read to the baby Brooklynites, something he would do “all day, everyday, if [he] could,” he joked to Kings County News reporter.
“In this age group, in particular, young people’s brains are forming at unbelievable rates. We have a great opportunity to build on their vocabulary and build connections. At the same time though, there are real lost opportunities. There is a 30 million-word gap between what a four-year-old in a wealthy neighborhood hears, than that of what a four-year-old in a not wealthy neighborhood hears. 30 million words, 30 million lost opportunities to connect and learn,” said Buery.
Parents are urged to use their website Talk To Your Baby as a tool to get educated on the research that has been done. They have even gone so far as allowing parents to sign up for updates via text message, which deliver a variety of exercises to try out with kids.
The Clinton foundation donated materials for young learners as well. According to Buer, Scholastic will be giving out two additional books beside “Love Is,” contributing to the campaign.
