Because of EPL, I Have Brighter, Happier Days
For Heather, a first-time parent in Edmonton, the early days of motherhood were filled with love—and exhaustion. Joy came in small, unexpected moments. One of those began with a gift from the Edmonton Public Library (EPL).
After her daughter’s two-month vaccinations, Heather received EPL’s Welcome Baby package, a program designed to support new families and foster a love of reading from an early age. Inside the tote bag were early literacy tips, a picture book, and a QR code linking to Sing It, Edmonton!—an album of original children’s songs by local artists.
“The stories a library holds are so special and being able to share that with your kids is something truly cool. Because of EPL, I have brighter, happier days.”
That routine now includes reading Stay, My Baby, the picture book from the package, followed by Robot Lullaby, a song from the album.
The most memorable moment came one afternoon with a playful track called Jigalup. Heather and her partner started dancing and singing along, laughing as they moved around the living room. Then something magical happened: their daughter chuckled for the very first time.
“She started doing the cutest little baby laugh. She was trying to figure out how to laugh.”
Moments like these have become part of family life, shared with grandparents and relatives. “My mother-in-law and sisters-in-law will hold the baby while the family sings and dances together,” Heather says. “It always gets her laughing. It’s just so funny.”
While songs like Jigalup bring joy through silliness, others connect on a deeper emotional level.
“Plant a Seed always makes me tear up,” Heather admits. “It really speaks to the joy of having a baby.”
In a world where new parents are often bombarded with information, Heather says the Welcome Baby program felt personal and reassuring. "Having something that's really geared to these early stages feels really nice," she explains.
Now, in these early days of parenting, the small moments - songs, stories, giggles - have become a source of comfort and joy, and a reminder of the lasting connection Heather is building with EPL.
“The stories a library holds are so special and being able to share that with your kids is something truly cool. Because of EPL, I have brighter, happier days.”
Ready to share your love for the library? Tell us how EPL shaped your story!