Parents' blog
What do Bookstart parents have to say? Find out more and add your comments.
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Announcing the shortlist for the 2010 Early Years Award
Posted Thursday August 5th 2010
by Rebecca Wilkie
The 2010 Booktrust Early Years Awards shortlist has just been announced and from interactive books for babies, to thought-provoking picture books for older children, there must be something here to appeal to every under-five!
This year’s best emerging illustrator category offers up a host of delights. Distinctive lino-cuts and a limited but striking palette are used in Kazuno Kohara’s wintry tale of Jack Frost. Kohara was last seen with debut picture book, The Haunted House, which was similarly memorable –this illustrator is definitely a name to watch.
Humour prevails in several titles – notably in Dog’s Don’t Do Ballet and The Talent Show, although both contain a more serious message about acceptance and following your dreams too! Jeremiah Jellyfish is another comic tale from John Fardell (previously shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize) with detailed, cartoon-like illustrations to pore over.
Ellie Sandall’s Birdsong, is an imaginatively illustrated fable about make-believe birds, while The Django by Levi Pinfold, is a sophisticated, painterly account of the early years of jazz musician Django Rienhardt – playing some of his music when sharing this book would make it a particularly memorable read.
In the Best Picture Book for Children up to Five-Years-Old category,…
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National Bookstart Day in North Tyneside
Posted Wednesday May 5th 2010
by Pauline Hutchinson
Young children in North Tyneside are invited to a series of seaside events to celebrate National Bookstart Day.
On Thursday 3rd June there will be fun events in Dudley library, Shiremoor Library, Howdon Library and New York Children’s Centre. Singer and story teller Tony Wilson will be visiting each venue on the North Tyneside Libraries Children’s book Bus and will entertain children and parents with his unique blend of songs and stories, there will be crafts and other activities at all the stops.
During the following week there will be events in Killingworth, Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend Libraries where parents and children can enjoy rhymes and activities on a Seaside theme.
These events are part of the Bookstart aim to encourage parents and children to share stories from birth in order to help the children learn to read.
Places are limited so to book a place please contact your local library.
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Sun, Sand, Sea, Songs and Stories
Posted Thursday April 29th 2010
by Andrew Harsant
Islington Celebrates National Bookstart Day!
Sandcastles, seashells, crabbing, ice creams … nothing sums up what being a child is all about more than the seaside and this year’s National Bookstart Day will get every family with a young child in the mood with story, rhymetime and craft activities on a seaside theme.
National Bookstart Day celebrates the enjoyment of reading and sharing a story or a rhyme to encourage children to develop a love of books. This year Islington Libraries, the Education Library Service, NHS Islington, Children’s Centres and nurseries are celebrating National Bookstart Day in the week of June 7-11 by getting together to put on some events guaranteed to get babies, toddlers and their families feeling the sand between the toes and the sun on their face (having applied the factor 30 first of course!).
There’ll be special seaside themed story, rhyme times and craft events in Islington’s 10 Libraries and 16 Children’s Centres. There’ll also be health team staff visiting some Children’s Centres to offer advice.
Ask for more information about events at your local library and Children’s Centre or email geoff.james@islington.gov.uk -
It's World Book Day!
Posted Thursday March 4th 2010
by Carolyn
March here already, and that can only mean one thing...WORLD BOOK DAY! Thursday 4th March is the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland, and we hope that you will join in the fun.
The main aim of World Book Day is to ‘encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity of having a book of their own.’ In recent years, the free £1 National Book Tokens that accompany this aim have been extended from schools to pre-school institutions as well – so why not encourage your nursery to sign up?
Also worth a look is the list of 70 tried and tested titles for children and adults to share together, complied by World Book Day trustee Jacqueline Wilson. This can be found online here, or in booklet form from national bookstores and libraries. With over 25 recommendations for 0-5 year olds, this is a fantastic resource for helping to inspire a love of books in your little ones.
For more information, or to register an institution, visit www.worldbookday.com -
Love a Picture Book
Posted Monday February 22nd 2010
by Carolyn Koussa
As parents, we all know just how busy life can get. Dashing between home, work, nursery and everywhere inbetween can leave you feeling like you’re in a whirlwind. So sometimes we need a gentle reminder to take a step back and enjoy the simpler things in life.
Booktrust’s new ‘Love a Picture Book’ manifesto does exactly that – it reminds us of the simple pleasures of sharing a picture book, for both you and your child. With all the new-fangled toys available today we can often overlook the beauty of a book, but it can easily be re-discovered.
It doesn’t require any money, or any travelling – just a few minutes put aside to dig out an old favourite and share it with your little one. It may not require any batteries, but their faces are sure to light up. And you might just be surprised at how much you enjoy it yourself.
So go on, pick up a picture book today. ‘Love a picture book – it will always love you back.’
