"The Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler packs have been invaluable for families who are missing out."
We spoke to Pam Readman, Senior Outreach Worker for Hartlepool Council, to find out how she uses #Bookstart to support families in her area:
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
We spoke to Pam Readman, Senior Outreach Worker for Hartlepool Council, to find out how she uses #Bookstart to support families in her area:
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
February 20, 2025 at 8:40 AM
"The Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler packs have been invaluable for families who are missing out."
We spoke to Pam Readman, Senior Outreach Worker for Hartlepool Council, to find out how she uses #Bookstart to support families in her area:
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
We spoke to Pam Readman, Senior Outreach Worker for Hartlepool Council, to find out how she uses #Bookstart to support families in her area:
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
Early Learners BookStart Campaign Ends on a High Note
The Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026 came to a joyful close on Saturday, September 19, with a Grand Celebration at Emilio Wilson Park....
https://www.721news.com/2026/09/early-learners-bookstart-campaign-ends-on-a-high-note/
The Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026 came to a joyful close on Saturday, September 19, with a Grand Celebration at Emilio Wilson Park....
https://www.721news.com/2026/09/early-learners-bookstart-campaign-ends-on-a-high-note/
Early Learners BookStart Campaign Ends on a High Note
The Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026 came to a joyful close on Saturday, September 19, with a Grand Celebration at Emilio Wilson Park. Approximately 100 children, parents, caregivers, and community members joined the Sint Maarten Library for an afternoon filled with stories, music, movement, and imagination. The celebration began with the Generation New Status Drumband leading the young readers in a lively parade, followed by story time with the Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa Gumbs.
www.721news.com
September 22, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Early Learners BookStart Campaign Ends on a High Note
The Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026 came to a joyful close on Saturday, September 19, with a Grand Celebration at Emilio Wilson Park....
https://www.721news.com/2026/09/early-learners-bookstart-campaign-ends-on-a-high-note/
The Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026 came to a joyful close on Saturday, September 19, with a Grand Celebration at Emilio Wilson Park....
https://www.721news.com/2026/09/early-learners-bookstart-campaign-ends-on-a-high-note/
Moving piece by @anooshc.bsky.social on reading to her toddler and why the Bookstart scheme is a model of progressive universalism. www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
What baby books taught me about the British state
The Bookstart scheme, which gives books to newborns, is a remnant from a more beneficent political era
www.newstatesman.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Moving piece by @anooshc.bsky.social on reading to her toddler and why the Bookstart scheme is a model of progressive universalism. www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
It's #DeafAwarenessWeek, but did you know we have #Bookstart Shine packs available for D/deaf children?
Here, illustrator @luceillustrates.bsky.social tells us about creating adorable artwork for the packs and her hopes for the children receiving them:
www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...
Here, illustrator @luceillustrates.bsky.social tells us about creating adorable artwork for the packs and her hopes for the children receiving them:
www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...
May 6, 2025 at 6:24 AM
It's #DeafAwarenessWeek, but did you know we have #Bookstart Shine packs available for D/deaf children?
Here, illustrator @luceillustrates.bsky.social tells us about creating adorable artwork for the packs and her hopes for the children receiving them:
www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...
Here, illustrator @luceillustrates.bsky.social tells us about creating adorable artwork for the packs and her hopes for the children receiving them:
www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...
We have bookend song
But BooKSTaRT for whEn?!
But BooKSTaRT for whEn?!
June 15, 2026 at 6:51 PM
We have bookend song
But BooKSTaRT for whEn?!
But BooKSTaRT for whEn?!
📢 We're delighted to announce our brand new #Bookstart Baby book!
The new title going out to all babies born in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be the fabulous Baby's Very First Lift-the-Flap Peekaboo by Fiona Watt & Stella Baggott.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
The new title going out to all babies born in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be the fabulous Baby's Very First Lift-the-Flap Peekaboo by Fiona Watt & Stella Baggott.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
November 18, 2024 at 6:07 PM
📢 We're delighted to announce our brand new #Bookstart Baby book!
The new title going out to all babies born in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be the fabulous Baby's Very First Lift-the-Flap Peekaboo by Fiona Watt & Stella Baggott.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
The new title going out to all babies born in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be the fabulous Baby's Very First Lift-the-Flap Peekaboo by Fiona Watt & Stella Baggott.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
Was thinking back to 2022 when gender critical folks in the UK took offence at the thought of an alien reading mascot having no recognizable gender:
teenlibrarian.co.uk/2022/10/04/t... 📚📜
teenlibrarian.co.uk/2022/10/04/t... 📚📜
The Bookstart Bear and Tala the Storyteller
Who is The Bookstart Bear? Matt temporarily an avatar of the Bookstart Bear 30 years ago The Bookstart Bear was introduced as the national mascot for the BookTrust’s Bookstart programme as part of …
teenlibrarian.co.uk
March 30, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Was thinking back to 2022 when gender critical folks in the UK took offence at the thought of an alien reading mascot having no recognizable gender:
teenlibrarian.co.uk/2022/10/04/t... 📚📜
teenlibrarian.co.uk/2022/10/04/t... 📚📜
In this colourful getup, I look like a Balamory resident.
November 15, 2024 at 9:55 PM
In this colourful getup, I look like a Balamory resident.
Today in Libraryland: Storytimes, Armed Forces Awareness training, free wifi, health and safety inspections, shelves of free book loans, digital support volunteers, hot drinks, seasonal craft activities, Bookstart packs, printing, sofas, and a coffee #librarylife
September 21, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Today in Libraryland: Storytimes, Armed Forces Awareness training, free wifi, health and safety inspections, shelves of free book loans, digital support volunteers, hot drinks, seasonal craft activities, Bookstart packs, printing, sofas, and a coffee #librarylife
Wow! Manchester Libraries gave out an amazing 15,000 #Bookstart packs last year! 🎉
That's so many families in Manchester getting support to read together from the earliest days, helping to give children the #BestStartInLife.
Find out more 👇
https://bit.ly/4bXhNTZ
#BecauseOfYou #ACESupported
That's so many families in Manchester getting support to read together from the earliest days, helping to give children the #BestStartInLife.
Find out more 👇
https://bit.ly/4bXhNTZ
#BecauseOfYou #ACESupported
15,000 packs: Bookstart blooms in Manchester
Bookstart is thriving in Manchester and here at Manchester Libraries we’re really proud to take the lead in delivering a variety of Booktrust …
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Wow! Manchester Libraries gave out an amazing 15,000 #Bookstart packs last year! 🎉
That's so many families in Manchester getting support to read together from the earliest days, helping to give children the #BestStartInLife.
Find out more 👇
https://bit.ly/4bXhNTZ
#BecauseOfYou #ACESupported
That's so many families in Manchester getting support to read together from the earliest days, helping to give children the #BestStartInLife.
Find out more 👇
https://bit.ly/4bXhNTZ
#BecauseOfYou #ACESupported
Books published by Little Tiger, @nosycrow.bsky.social and more have been selected for BookTrust’s 2026 Bookstart programme, which annually gifts books to young families. 👇
BookTrust shares Toddler and Pre‑schooler Bookstart picks for 2026
ebx.sh
June 10, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Books published by Little Tiger, @nosycrow.bsky.social and more have been selected for BookTrust’s 2026 Bookstart programme, which annually gifts books to young families. 👇
Every baby born in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is eligible for a free #Bookstart Baby pack.
That's because we know how important it is for families to start reading together from the earliest moments.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/... #ACESupported
That's because we know how important it is for families to start reading together from the earliest moments.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/... #ACESupported
July 21, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Every baby born in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is eligible for a free #Bookstart Baby pack.
That's because we know how important it is for families to start reading together from the earliest moments.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/... #ACESupported
That's because we know how important it is for families to start reading together from the earliest moments.
Find out more 👇
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/... #ACESupported
Did you know? Every baby born in Wales is entitled to receive our #Bookstart Baby and Early Years packs thanks to support from the Welsh government.
The programme offers bilingual books and guides to help families start their reading journeys together:
www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
The programme offers bilingual books and guides to help families start their reading journeys together:
www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
February 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Did you know? Every baby born in Wales is entitled to receive our #Bookstart Baby and Early Years packs thanks to support from the Welsh government.
The programme offers bilingual books and guides to help families start their reading journeys together:
www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
The programme offers bilingual books and guides to help families start their reading journeys together:
www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
The report goes on to talk about book gifting programmes for new babies like Bookstart Babies and Dollywood (including for kids up to 5. Also sidebar: god bless dolly)
July 27, 2026 at 6:45 AM
The report goes on to talk about book gifting programmes for new babies like Bookstart Babies and Dollywood (including for kids up to 5. Also sidebar: god bless dolly)
It's never too early for families to start reading together.
Our #Bookstart programmes provide books and resources to support parents and carers to share stories from children's earliest moments, helping to give them the best start in life.
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...
Our #Bookstart programmes provide books and resources to support parents and carers to share stories from children's earliest moments, helping to give them the best start in life.
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...
June 30, 2025 at 7:16 AM
It's never too early for families to start reading together.
Our #Bookstart programmes provide books and resources to support parents and carers to share stories from children's earliest moments, helping to give them the best start in life.
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...
Our #Bookstart programmes provide books and resources to support parents and carers to share stories from children's earliest moments, helping to give them the best start in life.
www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...
❗URGENT: Babies & toddlers in Wales will lose access to #Bookstart and other BookTrust Cymru programmes as the Welsh Government has stopped direct funding.
This will affect the poorest families first and hardest.
👉 https://bit.ly/49D6q0P
🎧 Listen on BBC Radio Wales (1hr25) https://bbc.in/49JYpr6
This will affect the poorest families first and hardest.
👉 https://bit.ly/49D6q0P
🎧 Listen on BBC Radio Wales (1hr25) https://bbc.in/49JYpr6
January 16, 2026 at 1:03 PM
❗URGENT: Babies & toddlers in Wales will lose access to #Bookstart and other BookTrust Cymru programmes as the Welsh Government has stopped direct funding.
This will affect the poorest families first and hardest.
👉 https://bit.ly/49D6q0P
🎧 Listen on BBC Radio Wales (1hr25) https://bbc.in/49JYpr6
This will affect the poorest families first and hardest.
👉 https://bit.ly/49D6q0P
🎧 Listen on BBC Radio Wales (1hr25) https://bbc.in/49JYpr6
We're delighted to unveil the books that will be included in our new #Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler packs!
Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler are designed to help parents and carers have fun reading and sharing stories with their children.
We can't wait for families to discover these books! 💫
Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler are designed to help parents and carers have fun reading and sharing stories with their children.
We can't wait for families to discover these books! 💫
June 10, 2026 at 7:32 AM
We're delighted to unveil the books that will be included in our new #Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler packs!
Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler are designed to help parents and carers have fun reading and sharing stories with their children.
We can't wait for families to discover these books! 💫
Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler are designed to help parents and carers have fun reading and sharing stories with their children.
We can't wait for families to discover these books! 💫
It's never too early to start reading with a baby...
Research shows that early shared reading has so many benefits - some right here and now, and some that can last a lifetime.
Find out how #Bookstart Baby packs help families to share books and stories: https://bit.ly/4ejk2Cs
#BabyDay
Research shows that early shared reading has so many benefits - some right here and now, and some that can last a lifetime.
Find out how #Bookstart Baby packs help families to share books and stories: https://bit.ly/4ejk2Cs
#BabyDay
May 2, 2026 at 11:32 AM
It's never too early to start reading with a baby...
Research shows that early shared reading has so many benefits - some right here and now, and some that can last a lifetime.
Find out how #Bookstart Baby packs help families to share books and stories: https://bit.ly/4ejk2Cs
#BabyDay
Research shows that early shared reading has so many benefits - some right here and now, and some that can last a lifetime.
Find out how #Bookstart Baby packs help families to share books and stories: https://bit.ly/4ejk2Cs
#BabyDay
Doctors advertised Bookstart, which was an early intervention programme I was involved in! #TheArchers
November 24, 2024 at 9:28 PM
Doctors advertised Bookstart, which was an early intervention programme I was involved in! #TheArchers
Happy #NationalLibrarianDay!
We're sending a BIG thank you to all librarians supporting families to read together - you're doing amazing work ✨
Don't forget to tag your photos & vids with #ShareYourStoryNYR so we can spotlight how you're using #Bookstart to make a difference in your communities!
We're sending a BIG thank you to all librarians supporting families to read together - you're doing amazing work ✨
Don't forget to tag your photos & vids with #ShareYourStoryNYR so we can spotlight how you're using #Bookstart to make a difference in your communities!
April 16, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Happy #NationalLibrarianDay!
We're sending a BIG thank you to all librarians supporting families to read together - you're doing amazing work ✨
Don't forget to tag your photos & vids with #ShareYourStoryNYR so we can spotlight how you're using #Bookstart to make a difference in your communities!
We're sending a BIG thank you to all librarians supporting families to read together - you're doing amazing work ✨
Don't forget to tag your photos & vids with #ShareYourStoryNYR so we can spotlight how you're using #Bookstart to make a difference in your communities!
BookTrust Cymru issues warning that babies and toddlers across Wales will lose access to early years shared reading support, with the end of its flagship Bookstart programmes, following Welsh Government’s decision to stop direct funding to the charity
Fears vital early years reading support for Wales’ poorest children could disappear
BookTrust Cymru has warned that thousands of babies and toddlers across Wales will lose access to vital early years shared reading support, with the end of its flagship Bookstart programmes, following...
nation.cymru
January 16, 2026 at 7:35 PM
BookTrust Cymru issues warning that babies and toddlers across Wales will lose access to early years shared reading support, with the end of its flagship Bookstart programmes, following Welsh Government’s decision to stop direct funding to the charity
The work @booktrust.org.uk does is so important to start kids on their reading and story journey. My own children’s journey started with our Bookstart pack. Please lend your support to them and #readtogether #readingrights
Today we're wishing a happy birthday to the wonderful former Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @cressidacowell.bsky.social 🎈
She is such an incredible advocate for the power of reading, supporting our #ReadingTogether campaign and recently appearing on a panel at the #ReadingRights summit!
She is such an incredible advocate for the power of reading, supporting our #ReadingTogether campaign and recently appearing on a panel at the #ReadingRights summit!
April 17, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The work @booktrust.org.uk does is so important to start kids on their reading and story journey. My own children’s journey started with our Bookstart pack. Please lend your support to them and #readtogether #readingrights
As a former children’s librarian and then a Bookstart Lady, I love this.
cumbriacrack.com/2026/08/12/n...
cumbriacrack.com/2026/08/12/n...
New library card scheme launched for babies in Westmorland and Furness – cumbriacrack.com
cumbriacrack.com
August 12, 2026 at 1:33 PM
As a former children’s librarian and then a Bookstart Lady, I love this.
cumbriacrack.com/2026/08/12/n...
cumbriacrack.com/2026/08/12/n...
Yesterday evening, Alison Morton, iHV CEO, attended @booktrust.org.uk ’s centenary reception hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at Clarence House and the launch of an exclusive Peter Rabbit book for the Bookstart Baby programme
ihv.org.uk/news-and-vie...
#HealthVisiting #Bookstart
ihv.org.uk/news-and-vie...
#HealthVisiting #Bookstart
October 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Yesterday evening, Alison Morton, iHV CEO, attended @booktrust.org.uk ’s centenary reception hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at Clarence House and the launch of an exclusive Peter Rabbit book for the Bookstart Baby programme
ihv.org.uk/news-and-vie...
#HealthVisiting #Bookstart
ihv.org.uk/news-and-vie...
#HealthVisiting #Bookstart
"Looking back I would never have anticipated the impact Bookstart would have..."
Ayub Khan MBE reflects on his involvement with Bookstart – from piloting the programme as a young children's librarian 25 years ago, to a recent meeting with the Queen!
Read the blog post: https://bit.ly/49h3kRe
Ayub Khan MBE reflects on his involvement with Bookstart – from piloting the programme as a young children's librarian 25 years ago, to a recent meeting with the Queen!
Read the blog post: https://bit.ly/49h3kRe
January 15, 2026 at 5:14 PM
"Looking back I would never have anticipated the impact Bookstart would have..."
Ayub Khan MBE reflects on his involvement with Bookstart – from piloting the programme as a young children's librarian 25 years ago, to a recent meeting with the Queen!
Read the blog post: https://bit.ly/49h3kRe
Ayub Khan MBE reflects on his involvement with Bookstart – from piloting the programme as a young children's librarian 25 years ago, to a recent meeting with the Queen!
Read the blog post: https://bit.ly/49h3kRe