You'll get your free Bookstart Baby Pack in your baby's first year, usually from your health visitor or other health professional. Your child will get their Bookstart Treasure Pack when they are 3–4 years old, from their nursery, playgroup or other early years setting
You can also ask at your local library if you have difficulty in getting hold of the packs.
We introduced the new-look Bookstart packs in January 2012. However, you may receive one of our older packs if your local Bookstart scheme has remaining stock.
Don’t worry though – whichever pack you get, you can be sure that you’ll get two great free books to share with your child, plus tips and ideas for you to help you enjoy stories, books and rhymes together.
Central funding is provided through the devolved administration in Wales, the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and the Department for Education in England. We have sponsorship support from a range of children's book publishers and booksellers and Bookstart is delivered via libraries, health professionals and early years professionals who give the packs to the parents and carers.
Central funding from the taxpayer is only 25% of the retail cost of delivering Bookstart. The remaining amount is covered by our highly successful public/private partnerships and our charitable status.
Booktrust does not publish books. Publishers in the UK are invited to submit books for consideration of inclusion in the packs. These books are produced in a number of countries. Bookstart packs contain a number of printed items eg guidance books and these components are produced in the UK.
There is a Bookstart book panel made up of book experts, librarians, health professionals and early years professionals.
All publishers, however small, are invited to submit books for consideration. Find out more about publishers and Bookstart.
Bookstart provides dual language books and guidance materials. There are also packs available for deaf children (Bookshine) and blind and partially sighted children (Booktouch). Please ask at your local library to find out more.
The two Bookstart packs all contain invitations to join the library, many of which offer Bookstart Rhymetimes and the Bookstart Bear Club.
You can also use our website to:
You can use your book token at Waterstones, W H Smith and Blackwell's, as well as hundreds of independent shops.
Yes. Sample sets of the Bookstart Baby and My Bookstart Treasure packs are available for purchase.
Find out more about ordering Bookstart support materials.
Remember that if you're seeking packs for children in your care, please ask your local library or ask your health visitor contacts. As these packs are for the child, there is no charge.
Around 1.5 million babies, toddlers and preschoolers receive Bookstart packs each year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is around 95% of all children.
