This year marks the 100^th anniversary of Children’s Book Week, a semiannual celebration of books and reading for children. Memorial Health pediatricians will mark the spring event April 29 through May 3 with a daily storytime, which will be broadcast live on the hospital’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/MemorialHealth).

Dr. Andrew Gunter, a pediatrician with Memorial Health’s Children’s Care practice, says the benefits of parents reading to their children can last a lifetime. “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents begin reading to their children from birth to stimulate their brain development,” he said. “We’ve found that this simple act can build language skills and literacy and motivate children to learn. It is one of the best ways to prepare them for school.”

Beginning Monday, April 29, Gunter and his colleagues will read a new or classic children’s book daily at 12:05 PM on Facebook Live. Some of the books include A Piglet Named Mercy, by Kate DiCamillo; Dragons Love Tacos, by Adam Rubin; and The Foot Book, by Dr. Seuss. Recordings of storytime will be available for viewing later in the day on the Facebook page.