Taieri Altrusa literacy committee chairwoman Sue Johnstone said literacy was an important focus for Altrusa internationally and each year the club did both literacy and service projects.
Ms Johnstone said a specially selected new book would be included in a pack supplied to new mothers with their babies on their first visit to the Mosgiel Plunket rooms.
A knitted item or burp-cloth made by members of Taieri Altrusa club is also included in the pack.
"These beautifully illustrated books are written by a New Zealand author in English and Te Reo and will provide many opportunities for parents and babies to interact," she said.
"By starting with new babies and their families we hope reading and talking about the pictures in the book will encourage oral literacy in young children and communication in their families."
This year, 200 families in the Taieri area with new-born babies will receive this gift of books.
It was hoped the "Books for Babies" project would become a multi-year project over three years with up to 600 newborns, their siblings and extended families benefiting from the increased language and speech opportunities provided through interaction with the books.
