BOOKSTART

www.bookstart.co.uk
http://www.youbabybookmagic.org.uk/
http://www.bookstart.org.uk/Parents-and-carers/Parents-Book-Crawl

Bookstart is the national programme that encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible. We want every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books. Working through locally-based organisations, Bookstart gives the gift of free books to children at around eight months, 18 months and three years, along with guidance materials for parents and carers. Bookstart also aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities. But Bookstart packs are only half of the gift to children and their families. The other, more lasting gift is the message of enjoying books together.

The books are chosen by Booktrust, an independent charity that encourages people to discover and enjoy reading. Although Bookstart works with different partners, including commercial sponsors, charitable trusts and government departments, the book selection process is independent and has no government or commercial involvement.

Bookstart is universal: Booktrust aims for every baby in the UK to get a Bookstart pack. It is estimated that the programme currently reaches 90 per cent of babies in the UK, and we’re working hard to fill the gaps.

Many parents are surprised to learn that babies can benefit from books at such an early age, but research shows that babies and toddlers who love books begin reading sooner and have a better chance at school.

The first five years are the best time for learning to talk and most of a child's language comes from the adults around them. Enjoying books with babies and toddlers is a wonderful way to increase language skills and helps children to understand their world.

Bookstart is a public and private partnership and benefits from sponsorship from over 20 children’s publishers, Red House Books and central funding from Sure Start (England and Wales) and the Scottish Executive (Scotland). Bookstart brings together over 4,000 libraries, 12,000 health visitors, over 14 publishers and many government, health and library agencies to make sure that every child in the UK develops a lifelong love of reading.

There are plenty of reasons why sharing books with your children is a good thing, take a look at http://www.youbabybookmagic.org.uk/ for a few ideas or to share your thoughts with others.

How Do You Get Your Free Bookstart Books?

In Worcestershire, your child should receive a Bookstart baby pack at around 9 months and a Bookstart Plus toddler pack at around 2 years from your Health Visitor or Nursery Nurse at a development check.

If your child has not received their pack, you may ask for one from your local library. (Please take along your “Red” Child Health Record Book)

The “My Bookstart Treasure Chest” is gifted directly to a child at an Early Years Setting (play school, nursery or childminder) in the year before they start school (3-4years old). Deliveries to each setting are made once per school year. If your child does not attend an early years setting, you may collect a Treasure Chest from a library as above.

Book Crawl for Under 4's

Libraries also offer the Bookstart Book Crawl for under 4's, follow this link to find out more, or visit the National website.
http://www.bookstart.org.uk/Parents-and-carers/Parents-Book-Crawl

In Worcestershire Libraries, Bookstart is co-ordinated by Sue Hargest our Early Years Library Co-ordinator.
For more information she can be contacted by email on shargest@worcestershire.gov.uk
or by telephone on 01905 428945.

National Bookstart Day 2007

http://www.bookstart.co.uk/Parents-and-carers/NationalBookstartDay07

National Bookstart Day in Worcestershire

Last year's National Bookstart Day 2007 was celebrated with a “Jungle Party” in libraries and children’s centres across the county. Children and their parents have had lots of fun singing jungle rhymes and hearing stories about the animals that live there.

One Nursery in Kidderminster was treated to a day out at their “local jungle” when Sue Hargest, Bookstart Coordinator, arranged a special visit for St Mary’s Primary School to the West Midlands Safari Park. Working in Partnership with Caroline Richards, Education Officer at the park, the children and their families saw all the animals and then joined in with a story and rhyme session in the newly created “Discovery Room”.

The families were reminded that they could learn lots more about the animals they had seen by sharing books from the library and their day was made extra special as each child went home with their “My Bookstart Treasure Chest”. The free books inside, Animal Bop and Shark in the Park, are great for reading out loud and with lots of actions to do together.

Over 80 people visited the jungle party at Kidderminster library where Caroline was on hand once again with snakes and other small animals from the Safari Park for the children to meet.

National Bookstart Day 2008

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National Bookstart Day is fast approaching Worcestershire

Our Libraries and Children’s Centres will be taking part in a series of events to mark National Bookstart Day.

There are numerous events happening throughout Worcestershire starting from Saturday 4^th October for the week. Bookstart Bear will be visiting libraries and other venues to enjoy stories and rhymes with pre-school children.

Sue Hargest, Early Years Library Co-ordinator, said: “National Bookstart Day gives us the opportunity to share our love of rhymes and stories with children and families across Worcestershire.

“Research shows children who enjoy books have better language and listening skills, greater emotional and social development and are much more likely to be eager and confident learners when they start school.”

Various activities will be happening to mark National Bookstart day including Storytimes and Bounce Rhyme sessions which will link in with the theme for this year’s National Bookstart Day - Pirates Ahoy. These library activities coincide with 2008 being National Year of Reading.

This year children also have the chance to enter a competition to win a pirate puppet from their local library. The prize draw is open to families with a child under five who is a library member and borrows a book between Saturday 4^th October and Friday 10^th October 2008.

More information about events happening in local libraries can be found on the Libraries Home Page.

If you would like to find out more about National Bookstart Day contact Sue Hargest on 01905 428945.

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