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A Holbrook mother whose two daughters began their lives in Stony Brook Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is turning her family’s experience into hope for others this holiday season.
Paige Pedroli, 34, had both of her daughters — Penelope, now 6, and Sydney, 2 — cared for inside the Stony Brook NICU.
Pedroli spent 10 days in the unit after her birth in 2018. Sydney, who arrived prematurely at 34 weeks in 2022, remained there for 14 days.
“Today, Penelope and Sydney are both thriving, thanks to the amazing care they received while in the NICU and after,” said Pedroli, whose experiences inspired her to write “Welcome to the NIC-Zoo,” a kid-friendly board book aimed at helping parents bond with their babies in NICU.
Pedroli hopes the book, which was published last year and recently won the 2025 New York City Big Book Award in the children’s board book category, also serves as a comforting read for older siblings at home.
The book is illustrated by Elena Hernandez, a friend of Pedroli’s sister.
As Suffolk County’s only children’s hospital, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital sees about 1,000 NICU admissions annually, including around 90 newborns who weigh less than 3.3 pounds, according to hospital figures.
Pedroli, who earned a marketing degree in 2013 from Sacred Heart University, said the nurses who cared for her family “were there hands-on 24/7,” adding, “They really helped us and comforted us.”
Book drive at Wading River’s East Wind
In September, she hosted a NICU Awareness Month book drive at The Little Nook Bookstore in Wading River. Thirty books were purchased that day, and Pedroli matched each one, donating 30 copies to Stony Brook’s NICU.
She’s returning to the shop this Sunday for what will become her first annual NICU Holiday Book Drive. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can purchase “Welcome to the NIC-Zoo” for $10. For every book sold, another will be donated to the Stony Brook NICU.
The event will feature family activities, arts and crafts, games, snacks, an indoor carousel, and a meet-and-greet and signing with Pedroli
The Little Nook Bookstore is located inside The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A in Wading River.
Pedroli said she is trying to reach as many NICU families as possible.
“Reading out loud is one of the best ways to bond and connect with your baby,” Pedroli said, stressing the importance of babies’ hearing their parents voices. “This book is a message of hope, and a reminder that every baby is a miracle.”
Top: Paige Pedroli with her daughters, Penelope and Sydney (Courtesy of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital).
