Bookstart and library services for the under fives

Bookstart is a national programme that encourages parents and carers to spend more time enjoying books with their babies and toddlers. It gives every child a free gift of a bag of books at around 8 months, 18 months and 3 years. There is also guidance material for parents and carers.

All Shropshire babies under the age of four are entitled to Bookstart.

Baby Bookstart pack

Between the age of 6 and 12 months babies will receive from their Health Visitor an attractive canvas bag containing:

• two board books
• an activity rhyme place mat
• colour booklet about sharing books with babies
• an invitation to join the library.

Please ask at your clinic or at your local library if you have not received your Bookstart bag yet.

Bookstart Plus for toddlers

This brightly coloured satchel includes:

• two books
• a colouring pad and crayons
• a 'Numbers are fun' bedroom frieze
• a book list and guidance leaflet
• 'More things to do with books' which focuses on early language and listening skills.

If your toddler is aged between 18-30 months you can get a satchel from either your Health Visitor or local library.

My Treasure Chest

This is a treasure box with a secret compartment and contains:

• two picture books
• "Treasure - a book of ideas", a guidance leaflet which focuses on early language and listening skills
• a fiction and non-fiction book list for children and their parents
• a pack of coloured pencils
• an A4 colouring pad.

This is gifted through early years settings for children aged between 36 and 48 months. If your child does not attend a setting, please ask at your local library for a pack.

Bookstart Booktouch packs

This is a pack of books for visually impaired babies and children suitable up to the age of four. It contains tactile books for the child and advice for parents on reading with a visually impaired child. Please contact your Health Visitor or the Bookstart Coordinator for further details.

Bookstart Bookshine packs

This is a pack designed for deaf children which have been developed working in partnership with the National Deaf Children's Society. In the pack there are two specially chosen books designed to stimulate children including a touch and feel book, a Bookshine guide to sharing books and a nursery rhyme place-mat which features BSL signs.

What else can you do?

Get your baby and toddler a library card! You are never too young to join the library. It is free to join and you can borrow up to ten books at a time. Young children are welcome in all libraries in Shropshire and there is a Family Friendly Policy to ensure your visit is as enjoyable as possible.

Join the Bookstart Bookcrawl

Babies and toddlers receive their own Bookcrawl collector card. Each time they borrow books from the library, they receive a sticker or stamp to go on the card. Once they have collected four stickers, they get a certificate. There are many different certificates to collect. Ask at your local library for more details.

Enjoy the special story times and baby bounce times

Come along and have lots of fun singing your favourite rhymes and sharing stories. Ask at your local library for what is on near you.

For further information about the national scheme, visit the Bookstart website.

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