The Pikes Peak United Way began a new program at the beginning of the new year Friday called First Baby, First Book. It's part of the Brainy Bunch program encouraging literacy in children.

The need for the program became critical when a study in our community said 25 percent of third graders are not reading at a third grade level. Experts stress the importance of reading to children, especially babies in their first year of life.

The new program that began Friday will give every baby born in the Pikes Peak Region a new book, and a guide to success for parents. Pikes Peak United Way says babies' brains develop quickly during their first year, so it's important for parents to know what they should be teaching and showing babies. Experts working with United Way say at 3 months, babies begin to develop a memory, at 4 months, babies begin to recognize shapes and colors, and at 6 months, babies begin imitating sounds. Therefore, the importance of knowing what to teach and read babies in their first year is crucial.

The books will be given to the families at the hospital before they go home. The books are all brand new so that they're clean and safe for babies. United Way says they appreciate any donations of new books or monetary donations to purchase new books.