Bookstart
Bookstart is a national scheme offering free books to every child under four and advice for parents. There are three free Bookstart packs given out by health visitors at clinics and GP surgeries or are available from libraries.
Baby Bookstart pack (0-12 months) contains:
- two board books
- Babies Love Books guide to sharing books with your baby
- great books for babies
- a coloured placemat.
Bookstart Plus pack (18-30 months)contains:
- a board book and picture book
- colouring book and crayons
- Numbers are Fun frieze
- a set of stickers
- great books for toddlers and £1 book token.
- more things to do with books - guidance for parents.
My Bookstart Treasure Chest (three years):
- two picture books
- a colouring book
- coloured pencils and a sharpener
- a set of bookplate stickers
- reading suggestions and £1 book voucher
- a book of ideas.
All three packs contain:
- a library joining form
- information about Brent libraries
- Brent libraries under-fives story and rhyme times
- Brent Children's Information Service childcare leaflet.
Library staff can advise on sharing books with babies and young children. To join your local library simply bring one proof of your name and address (eg. household bill, child benefit book or driving licence). Your health visitor can advise on the library closest to where you live.
Most libraries have under fives activities as well as books on parenting and magazines offering advice on the health and wellbeing of you and your child.
We also run the Bookstart Book Crawl, a reader development programme for nought to four-year-olds which focuses on encouraging children and parents to enjoy sharing books.
Contact us at libraryservice@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 3144.