What are you doing for National Bookstart Week 2011?

5,000 family events will be taking place around the country this June – why not tell us what you are getting up to?

There are so many things you can do with this year's theme of All Aboard – open-air buses, hot air balloons, trains, boats – really, everything and anything to do with transport and travel.

Get the latest information and downloads for National Bookstart Week here

If you've got a great event planned that you'd like to share with the Bookstart community then let us know by leaving your comment below.

To kick things off, we thought we'd share three of our favourite events that we've heard about so far...

Transport Rhyme Trail in Wiltshire

We've produced a set of laminated photos featuring the Bookstart Bear with a variety of modes of transport. The pictures will be distributed to our larger libraries to use in a 'Transport Rhyme Trail' event during National Bookstart Week.

 

Groups of children will be able to find the pictures that have been hidden around the library – each discovery will provide an opportunity for a rhyme connected to the particular form of transport. At the end of the trail and once all the pictures have been found the children will be rewarded with Bookstart goodies.

 

Kathryn Arthur, Bookstart Coordinator in Wiltshire
View more of Kathryn's photos in the National Booktrust Week Flickr group

All Change in South Gloucestershire

This year we will be sharing All Change by Ian Whybrow to as many children as possible, following on from the success of reading Shark in the Park in 2010.

 

We're aiming to bring the story to every early years setting and children’s centre, as well as some childminders – and we've bought 200 copes to distribute to these various locations.

The book itself is a fun story where Miss Lollipop takes a sad tiger on an epic journey from car to train to boat. They're joined along the way by a horde of animals for a wacky adventure that cheers the tiger up.

 

Ian Whybrow is very thrilled to know this event is happening!

Annette Hicks, Bookstart Coordinator in South Gloucestershire

Stories, crafts and rhymes at Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire

Bookstart Coordinator Sandy Chapman has arranged a special event for families at Kingsbury Water Park. On Saturday 12 June there will be story stomps and Rhymetimes on a transport theme, plus craft activities and goody bags for all children under five.

Families will also have the chance to go All Aboard on the miniature railway!

Photo by Neil Barnwell

So, whatever role you play with Bookstart in your area, let us know your plans for National Bookstart Week by leaving a comment below.

Don't forget to tell us where your event is, what you'll be doing and when you'll be holding it!

If you are a Bookstart Coordinator remember you can also publicise your events to families using our events calendar.