For Early Years

Welcome to the dedicated digital Storyteller hub for BookTrust’s early years partners – covering all of our early years programmes.

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Our work in the Early Years

Discover how we and our partners are supporting families to discover the power and magic of books and stories in early years settings.

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Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler

A new pilot offer designed for families who may need a hand to get started with reading.

Toddler and Pre-schooler

BookTrust Storytime

Exciting new library experiences for families with fun, free activities for 0-5s, including storytime sessions.

BookTrust Storytime

Storytelling tips for a brilliant storytime

BookTrust packs in Cambridge

A photo of Danyah Miller leading a storytelling session

How to engage children with stories

Watch Michael Rosen's storytelling tips

We've teamed up with the brilliant Michael Rosen to create an exciting new series of video guides for storytellers.

From voicing different characters to using puppets as part of the story, these inspirational short videos are full of handy hints and tips for making story time magical.

Watch the videos

BookTrust's early years reading journey

Graphic of reading journey

Download and print the reading journey

Explore our Early Years booklists

Our pick of the best books to help young children get started on their reading journey.

Picture books about daily routines

Babies and young children love routines – and they love seeing characters doing the same things as them. From getting dressed to having lunch, brushing teeth to reading a bedtime story, toddlers and babies will enjoy recognising the familiar daily activities. Here is a selection of lovely picture books that highlight the everyday moments of a little one’s li…

Books about developmental milestones from 0-2

Babies’ brains develop incredibly quickly and sometimes it seems they have a new skill every week.

This selection of books celebrates all the clever things many children learn to do from birth to age 2 or thereabouts, from lying on their tummies to clapping and waving, all the way to recognising familiar sights, eating real food and saying their first w…

Books for potty training

Potty training is an important part of a pre-schooler’s life, and it can help to see a character in a book doing it too. It’s also important to have funny books to read when on the potty! Here is a selection of books that might encourage a young child to focus on toilet training.