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A baby is held in the Neonatal Intensive Care at North Mississippi Medical Center Women’s Hospital. (WTVA)    By (https://www.wtva.com/authors/alvin-ivy/) Alvin Ivy    Published: Sep. 21, 2026 at 4:40 PM EDT | Updated: 2 hours ago     Share     (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.wtva.com)  Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google      TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) – A local neonatal intensive care unit is encouraging parents to turn story time into an important part of their baby’s care. The Neonatal Intensive Care at North Mississippi Medical Center Women’s Hospital is taking part in Babies With Books Read-A-Thon, an international reading competition designed to encourage families to read to their babies, even while they’re in intensive care. The read-a-thon runs Sept. 25. During the event, families in the NICU are encouraged to read with their babies as often as possible.   Families who read the most will also receive a gift basket filled with books to take home. “It’s good bonding and hearing our voices comfort her,” said Taylor Wooley. “It means a lot to us to have this bonding experience with her.” “We can encourage parents to read to their babies,” said Janna Mink, the assistant nurse manager for Neonatal Intensive Care. “It helps brain development. It helps with bonding in that stressful time with their babies being in the NICU. The hospital is asking the community to donate new children’s books so every NICU family can receive one to continue the tradition long after the Read-A-Thon ends.  Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.            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