Bookstart

If you are a parent or carer of a baby or young child, the Bookstart scheme can help to encourage your child develop a life-long love for books.

Bookstart provide three different packs of books, the first when your child is six to 12 months, the second at 18 to 30 months and the final one at 26 to 48 months. They are available from your health visitor, any library branch, nurseries, pre-schools and registered childminders. 

If you child is blind or partially sighted and aged four or under, a free Booktouch pack containing specially chosen "touch and feel" books is available from your health visitor.

If your child is deaf and aged four or under, a free Bookshine pack is containing a "touch and feel" book and a nursery rhyme book featuring British Sign Language (BSL) signs is available from your health visitor.

Children under five years old can also join in the 'Bookstart book crawl'.  This reading incentive rewards your child with a sticker every time they visit one of our libraries.  Every four stickers collected can be exchanged for a certificate and prize.

• Visit the Bookstart website for more information (link opens in a new window)