Testimonials about Bookstart

Parent Julia Harris: 'Reading books with your child is one of the nicest activities you can share. It develops so many skills, from building attention, encouraging language acquisition and vocabulary development, to developing emotional intelligence about character motivation and experience. That all sounds very technical, but it all happens very naturally when you read and talk about books with your child.'

Parent Valerie Cobbin: 'My daughter is only 6 months old, but already loves being read to. We got her first Bookstart pack when she was 3 months, and immediately began to spend time looking at the pictures, playing peek-a-boo and reading the rhymes together. It wasn't long before Jessica got to know each of the books, and now she giggles and gets excited when we sit down together to read. I am looking forward to picking up the next package.'

Parent Shaun Harris, father to Charlie: 'Although he can’t read yet we’re going to use the pack to start him off with bedtime stories. He loves hearing stories and absolutely loves visiting the library and being around books. He feels right at home and he loves being there.'

> Charlie joined Halton Lea library at just eight hours old. Read more here

Ginny Collins, mother to Valentino, 4 and Jean, 2: 'The Bookstart packs are such a welcome treat in our house. Even if you have a whole library full of books already, or no books at all, the packs are a great way to engage your child in reading. Looking at the pictures, reading the rhymes and simply enjoying the books are such fun ways to spend time together.'

Emma Griffen Parent: 'I think the Bookstart pack is wonderful. I am really enjoying introducing my baby to books. He loves the books that we received in the pack and it has spurred me on to buy more books to share with him, which we do every evening before bed. It has also encouraged us to visit our local library and borrow books. Thank you for this wonderful scheme.'

Parent Denbighshire: 'Bookstart Storytimes in the library have helped me learn how to share books with my baby. She loves them! We now go to the library more often to borrow books and always feel very welcome there.'

Wendy Cooling Bookstart Senior Consultant: 'We have always instinctively known that reading to very young children was good for them, though there was very little research showing this. I wanted to explore the impact that early book-sharing would have upon whole child development and upon children's pre-literacy skills.'

Rosemary Clarke, Head of Bookstart: 'Every child has the right to a creative life, full of imagination and possibilities.

Enjoying books from babyhood builds the foundations for early literacy and develops a child's confidence as a learner. These are long-term benefits, but the pleasure of talking and listening together offers immediate rewards and helps to build loving relationships.

I was a fortunate child, growing up in a home where everyone read. My Granddad retired from the docks when I was about 4 and I think I became his hobby. We talked for hours; he told me everything and gave me my love of books. He was a lifelong learner before the phrase was ever coined. In turn, I have given this love to my children and I think this is the essence of Bookstart - it is about families and what one generation gives to another when they talk and listen and read books together.

The Bookstart packs are magical; they are full of books, tips and ideas, but they only work when parents decide to embrace the idea of making books part of their regular routine.

When you read a story together and talk about it afterwards you are saying - I love you, our time together is precious and nothing is more important than being with you.'

Professor Kathy Sylva speaking to the Select Committee on Education and Employment regarding the EPPE Study: 'Our study has shown that the home environment can really make a difference... more important than the mother's educational qualifications is what the mother does with the child... Education matters, qualifications matter, but if the mother reads to the child, plays rhyming games, sings songs, talks about letters and sounds, and takes the child to the library, these behaviours at home are more important and can compensate for a low education level.'

 

Quote from a Health Visitor on the Booktouch pack:

Thank you so much for the Booktouch pack which I gave to a visually impaired two year old yesterday – the joy on the child’s face as she explored the bag and its contents was wonderful.

She kept taking the books in and out of the bag, and Mum was thrilled with it too. It was such a pleasure to see both Mum and little girl enjoying sharing the pack's contents.

We'd love to hear all about your experiences of Bookstart - simply leave your comments below