Books as Medicine: A New Prescription for Child Well-Being

This summer, the Tiny Tots Health Initiative unveiled Pleasure Read with Tiny Tots, a new pilot program bringing books and the joy of reading—into the hands of young patients at Wayne Healthy Communities, a pediatric clinic in Metro Detroit.

The program addresses a pressing gap: over 60% of low-income households in the U.S. have no age-appropriate books at home. In some under-resourced communities, the ratio of books to children is 1 to 300. This lack of access contributes not only to reading delays, but to broader disparities in health, academic achievement, and long-term opportunity.

Tiny Tots donated books can be recognized by our signature blue sticker on the bottom right corners.

Tiny Tots is working to change that one book at a time. During each clinic visit, children select a free book to keep. When they return for their next visit, they discuss the book with a provider or staff member using friendly, guided prompts. A small reward acknowledges their engagement and supports habit-building.

The pilot was inspired by Stanford’s EDUC111 course, The Young Adult Novel, and reflects Tiny Tots’ mission to see health and literacy as interconnected pillars of child well-being. Research shows that reading for pleasure is strongly linked to increased empathy, reduced stress, and better academic outcomes all crucial for thriving youth.

Books are sourced through donations, including partners like Troy Public Library, and marked with the Tiny Tots blue logo sticker. Featured titles are diverse, age-appropriate, and chosen to reflect the experiences and imaginations of the young readers who receive them.

As the pilot rolls out in summer 2025, Tiny Tots hopes to expand the program to additional clinics.