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Bookstart

Bookstart distributes free books and other learning materials to young children. The programme aims to inspire a love of books from as early an age as possible, encouraging parents and carers to share books with children.

We work in partnership with Booktrust, health visitors and our early year's services to deliver the packs and bags.

Bookstart for babies

Your health visitor should give you a free Bookstart baby pack in the first twelve months of your baby's life or you can collect your pack from any of our libraries.

In the bag you'll find:

  • Two board books
  • A Rhyme sheet
  • A booklet of tips and ideas for sharing books with children from a very young age

The board books and the parental guidance pamphlet are available in other languages on request.

Also available:

  • Booktouch packs - for children aged up to four years with visual impairments
  • Bookshine packs - for children aged up to four years with hearing impairments
  • Bookstart Star - supports children who have developmental delay

The texts in these bags have been carefully chosen to support children with these specific additional needs. Ask at your local library, health centre or children's centre for more information.