Bookstart's Giant Teddy Bears' Picnic

Tuesday, October 4 2005

Celebrate National Bookstart Day on Friday 7 October 2005

If you go down to your library today, you'll be sure of a big surprise! As hundreds of libraries up and down the country are getting involved in National Bookstart Day on Friday 7 October. With events from Lerwick to Land's End, everyone will be joining in with rhymes, stories and songs, to celebrate the ongoing success of Bookstart in the UK - a world leader in gifting free books to babies.

In Scotland, the theme for National Bookstart Day is the Teddy Bears' Picnic and literally hundreds of picnics are taking place in libraries and other community venues. Bookstart will also be holding a 'Name the Bookstart Bears Competition'. The life sized Bookstart Bears first made their appearance in Edinburgh on National Bookstart Day in 2004, and have been touring Scotland ever since. The Bears now need a name so that they can truly feel part of the Bookstart team. Entry forms will be available at every National Bookstart Day event in Scotland and the winner will receive £100 worth of books.

Bookstart is a national scheme offering free books to children and advice to their parents. The scheme was established to encourage parents to share books with children from a very early age. Parents receive a Bookstart pack at their baby's eight-month assessment. This includes free books, information about local library activities and services, valuable advice on sharing books … all in a canvas Bookstart bag. Children really benefit from Bookstart and gain a head start with their language skills. If you believe you have missed out on your Bookstart pack, ask your health visitor or local library for details, or visit www.bookstart.co.uk

Libraries in the Scottish Borders will be celebrating BookStart day with the following events:

Wed 5 Oct, Duns Library, 1.00pm - 2.00pm: Teddybears' picnic for pre-school children with rhymes and stories, please bring along your teddy to join in the fun. No need to book. Chris Ballance MSP will be attending this event. (Watch out also for special guest, the Bookstart Bear!)
Friday 7 Oct, Langlee Primary School library, 10.30am -11.30am: Stories and rhymes for Bookstart Day for pre-school children, please bring your teddy. Please book your free place at the school 01896 757892. Jeremy Purvis MSP will be attending this event.
Friday 7 Oct, Hawick Library, 1.30pm - 2.30pm: Teddybears' picnic for pre-school children with rhymes and stories to celebrate Bookstart Day, please bring along your teddy to join in the fun. Please book your free place at Hawick Library 01450 372637. Euan Robson MSP will be attending this event. (Watch out also for special guest, the Bookstart Bear!)
Friday 7 Oct, Galashiels Library, 9.30am - 10.30am: Balmoral Nursery will be visiting the library for stories and rhymes (event not open to the public)
Friday 7 Oct, Kelso Library, 9.30am - 10.30am: Noah's Ark Nursery will be visiting the library for stories and rhymes (event not open to the public)

Everyone is very welcome to attend!

This year will be the sixth National Bookstart Day and will help raise awareness of the Bookstart concept. Bookstart hopes to welcome even more carers, babies, and children into libraries to use the resources available to them.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Booktrust is an independent charity that promotes books and reading for people of all ages. The charity runs a number of popular reading projects, in addition to managing literary prizes and a book-information telephone service. Booktrust offers a wide range of resources, publications, and services covering many aspects of books and children's reading. Booktrust is independent and not affiliated to any publishing or media group.
Launched in Birmingham in 1992 with just 300 babies, Bookstart became a national scheme in January 1999. By March 2000, Bookstart in the UK had become the first national baby book-gifting scheme in the world.
For further details about local events please contact Gill Swales, Young People's Services Co-ordinator at Scottish Borders Council on 01750 20842.
For further information about Bookstart in Scotland please contact Caroline McLeod on 0131 556 7990.
For more information about the national Bookstart programme, please contact Bookstart Communications Officer Emily Butt on 020 8516 2980.

Reference: News-7302, Contact the Author