MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- March is celebrated across the country as National Reading Month. Joining in the celebrations is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee, creating a book drive to help even the youngest babies find their love of reading.

"The days are long, it goes by quickly. What do I do, what do I say? I’m not a good singer, what do I communicate to him? The book drive was a really great way to bond with him," shared Courtney King. Her baby, Harrison, has stayed in the NICU for the last month. She, like many families, has a lot of time to spend at the hospital, and was looking for things to do with their newborn. That's why hospital staff created a book drive, with a rolling bookshelf that goes room to room, with all kinds of books. Staff says they're "turning the power of books into medicine for its smallest patients."

"They love it. It's really sweet. It's nice to just be able to give books to the parents, especially, just because it's so great for the babies to hear their parents reading to them, even when they're sick and critical. It's so great for their brain development," shared Hana Scott, RN at Ascension Columbia St. Mary's NICU. She added that reading to children is also "great for bonding, especially when parents can't hold their little ones when they're so little in those first couple weeks. It's really special just for the baby to be able to hear their parents' voices."

They had a goal of 100 books that was quickly surpassed - bringing in over 400 books so far! Scott said families will now get to take two books home with them at discharge, at least for the next year.

If you want to help, you can see the hospital's wish list here.