Build-A-Bear and BookTrust deliver bears and reading support to children
14 November 2025
The Build-A-Bear Foundation has generously increased its support to BookTrust, its UK literacy partner. Here’s how the partnership helps children to experience the joy of shared reading.
The Build-A-Bear Foundation has pledged funding to support 37,000 early years children to benefit from BookTrust’s Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler programmes in 2026 – and to double the number of bears they will gift to children via BookTrust over the coming year.
BookTrust is proud to be the UK literacy partner for The Build-A-Bear Foundation. The foundation believes that every child, regardless of background, deserves the joy of reading and a cuddly companion to provide a sense of security and connection to accompany it.
This week, thanks to the support of the Foundation, BookTrust has delivered 1,032 Build-A-Bears to nursery children across 20 different early years settings across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Children were provided with a reading bear and support through BookTrust’s Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler programmes, which offer books, resources and activities to encourage family reading for young children.
Staff from the Build-A-Bear Foundation also visited different BookTrust partners to join stay-and-play sessions, storytimes and bear-themed activities before the books and packs were given out.
BookTrust research shows early shared reading has a range of hugely beneficial effects, including deepening bonds with parents and carers and improving mental wellbeing, as well as building empathy, creativity and imagination.
Diana Gerald MBE, Co-CEO of BookTrust, says: “Our partnership with the Build-A-Bear Foundation helps our work as a charity by generating excitement and happiness for children across England, Wales and Northern Ireland as they share books and stories.
The reactions from families when they’re gifted a bear and BookTrust pack are so special to see.
Diana Gerald, BookTrust Co-CEO
“We’re incredibly grateful for the Build-A-Bear Foundation’s ongoing support, which makes such a difference in building families’ positive associations reading together.”
Alison Beer, Principal Libraries Outreach Officer for Slough Borough Council, says: “Slough Libraries are delighted that children at the Penn Road Best Start Family Hub have benefitted from the partnership with BookTrust and Build-a-Bear to receive a bear and book pack.
As well as bringing fun and joy, these resources will enhance the home learning environment for families and the bears will provide opportunities for play that will develop children’s imagination, language and literacy skills, and cognitive development.
Alison Beer, Principal Libraries Outreach Officer, Slough Borough Council
“The Bookstart packs will inspire and encourage families to enjoy books together, and reinforce the library messaging that sharing books with your child gives them the best start in life.”
