Packs for children with additional needs
Bookstart is for every child, so in England, families are entitled to any of these packs in addition to the two standard Bookstart packs. A set amount of packs are given to each local authority's Bookstart Coordinator, who can be contacted via your health visitor, health clinic, early years setting or local library.
Bookstart Shine for children who are deaf
There are two packs: Bookstart Shine Baby (0-2 years old) and Bookstart Shine Toddler (3-5 years old). Each pack has two books, a rhyme place mat (with babies signing) and guidance around sharing books. The Toddler pack includes a bookmark showing British Sign Language and the Baby pack includes a BookTrust keyring.
Other resources and support
- Find ideas for books to share in the Bookstart Shine booklist
- Download our leaflet Bookstart Shine: A guide to enjoying books and reading with deaf children
- Read and sign along with BSL videos in our Storybooks and Games section. You'll find fantastic stories such as A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea, Oh No, George!, Everybunny Dance! and Owl Babies, as well as lots of colouring and mark-making games.
- Visit the website of NCDS (National Deaf Children's Society)
Bookstart Touch for children who are blind or partially sighted
There are two packs: Bookstart Touch Baby (0-2 years old) and Bookstart Touch Toddler (3-5 years old). Each pack has two touch-and-feel books and guidance around sharing books with blind and partially sighted children. The Baby pack includes a BookTrust keyring.
Other resources and support
- Find ideas for books to share in the Bookstart Touch booklist
- Download our leaflet Bookstart Touch: A guide to enjoying books and reading with blind and partially sighted children
- Visit the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) website
Bookstart Star for children with conditions affecting their fine motor skills
This pack is available for children aged 3-5 who have disabilities that impact on or delay the development of their fine motor skills. Each pack has a copy of Peekaboo Bear and Getting Ready, plus finger puppets for playing along with the stories and guidance sheets.
BookTrust has teamed up with publisher Child's Play to create three new tactile books, Off to the Park!, Off to the Beach! and Getting Ready, which you'll find inside the various Bookstart additional needs packs.
Disability expert Alex Strick says that consulting children was key to producing books that appeal to visually impaired and sighted audiences alike.
Please note that books contained within the packs may differ from those pictured.
