Bookstart 20 regional update

Bookstart 20: Celebrations and pledges in Northern Ireland

Making the pledge is a simple way for people to get into the habit of reading with their children and show their support for Bookstart.

The routine of sharing books, stories, songs and rhymes with babies helps to build pre-literacy skills as well as providing a unique opportunity for parents and carers to build a strong and loving bond with their children.

Liz Canning, Booktrust Manager Northern Ireland

Bookstart 20 celebrations and pledges have been taking place everywhere including in Northern Ireland. On Friday 23 March, Sammy Wilson, Finance Minister and MP for East Antrim, endorsed a national campaign in Carrickfergus Library to encourage children, families and adults to share books, stories and rhymes together.

He joined the Bookstart Bear and  local families with babies, toddlers and school-age children who all pledged to share 20 books in 2012. Mr Wilson regularly shares books with his friends and colleagues and commented that the Bookstart 20 campaign is a great invitation to open up the joy of reading to children.

Mr Wilson joins other local politicians; Naomi Long, Nigel Dodds Jeffrey Donaldson and NI authors Malachy Doyle, Paul Howard and Trisha Deery who have all signed the Bookstart 20 pledge.