Scottish Borders to celebrate Bookstart Day
Monday, September 25 2006
On Friday 6 October Scottish Borders babies, toddlers and families will be joining Health Visitors and library staff to celebrate “National Bookstart day” by sharing stories, singing rhymes and having fun.
They will be among thousands of families across the country who will gather at libraries and other venues from Land’s End to John O’ Groats to help raise awareness of the benefits that early book sharing can bring. 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.
The idea behind Bookstart is very simple: Babies love books, and children are never too young to share a story and to start enjoying books.
Events for Bookstart Day in the Scottish Borders:
Duns Library: Rhymetime open to all 2.15-2.45pm 6th October.
Galashiels Library: Teddy Bear Rhymetime open to all. 10.00-10.30am 5th October
Hawick Library: Rhymetime open to all 10.00-11.00am 5th October
Innerleithen Library: Rhymetime with Teddy bear’s picnic open to all 10.00-11.00am 6th October
Kelso Library: Storytelling with Children from Abbey Row Nursery 9.30-10.30am 6th October
Scottish Borders Council’s Library Service has a selection of books and resources for babies and young children including board books, story books and story sacks.
Libraries also have a lot more for the rest of the family including computers, talking books, videos, DVD’s, information and much more.
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 and in many authorities at 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.
Bookstart is run by Booktrust, an independent national charity that encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover, and enjoy, reading. Amongst Booktrust’s other projects are the Orange Prize for Fiction, National Children’s Book Week, the Children’s Laureate and the Booktrust Teenage Prize.
As a public and private partnership, Bookstart benefits from sponsorship from over 25 children’s publishers, Red House Books and central Government funding from the Scottish Executive.Parents wishing to receive a pack should speak to their Health Visitor or contact their local library.
For more information, please contact Gill Swales, Young people’s Services Co-ordinator, 01750 724906 or online
For information on the national Bookstart programme, contact Katherine Solomon at katherine@booktrust.org.uk or on 020 8875 4583 or see www.bookstart.org.uk
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