Bookstart Baby and dual-language books
Please ask at your local library if you haven't received your Bookstart Baby pack by the time your child turns one.
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Bookstart Baby pack
In England, your health visitor or another health professional should gift this Bookstart Baby pack in your baby's first year to help you share stories, rhymes and songs.
The content varies, but will include a book, a finger puppet and a booklet of tips and ideas for sharing books with children from a very young age.
Find out about our new Bookstart Baby pack for 2023-24
Dual-language books
If English is not your first language, you may be able to get a book in another language as part of your Bookstart packs.
Please ask your health visitor (babies) or library (pre-schoolers), who can contact the local Bookstart Coordinator about availability. We also have guidance available in a number of languages.
Celebrate your home language with stories and rhymes
Reading together every day helps children
- Hear, learn and say new words
- Learn about their family's culture
- Gain confidence in a second language
Tips for sharing books in your home language
- Use the pictures – talk about what is happening in them and the story
- Encourage your child by making lots of eye contact and smiles
- Make time each day to cuddle up with your child and share stories
- Have quiet, quality time together – switch off your TV, radio or mobile phone
- Your child may use English, but you can reply or repeat in your home language
- Sing or say nursery rhymes and songs from your home language
