123 Splosh, All About Me! and Max the Brave unveiled as brand new Bookstart titles

Published on: 10 January 2018 Author: Catriona Wightman

David Melling's 123 Splosh, DK's All About Me! and Ed Vere's Max the Brave have been announced as this year's brand new Bookstart titles.

Bookstart gifts free books to every child in England before they turn one and again when they're aged 3-4.

This year, 600,000 children aged 0-12 months will receive humorous counting book 123 Splosh as part of their Bookstart Baby pack, along with rhyme sheets and a booklet with tips and ideas for sharing stories.

'I'm delighted that 123 Splosh has been chosen as the Bookstart Baby read,' David said.

'It's a wonderful feeling as an author, knowing that over 600,000 families will be given your book to enjoy together.

'BookTrust do invaluable work, encouraging a love of books at the earliest age, and I'm proud to be part of the programme.'

123 Splosh will be joined in the Bookstart Baby pack by DK's All About Me!, a diverse and inclusive title which encourages action and relates to key stages in a child's development.

Meanwhile, Max the Brave will be gifted to a further 600,000 children across England aged 3-4 as part of the Bookstart Treasure pack.

The charming story follows a brave kitten who courageously sets out to find a mouse to chase.

'It's an incredible honour for my book to be chosen for BookTrust Treasure from such a high-level field of so many amazing books,' Ed said. 'I can't tell you how thrilled and delighted I am that so many children are going to get the opportunity to read Max the Brave!

'I think it's so important to put high quality, entertaining and fun books in front of not only children, but the grown ups who are going to read the books to them. If a grown up is bored reading to a child, that will transmit to the child and if parents know there are great books out there that are entertaining, then children will grow up loving reading because it's fun. I think that's essential and it's what reading is all about.

'Introducing books to children at an early age like this is exactly what we have to do. If we're going to encourage children to read, which we must because it's so important, then we have to do it with good books and I'm thrilled that Max is considered a good book. Thank you BookTrust!'

See Ed Vere reading Max the Brave and read our author interview

Bookstart packs are gifted by BookTrust through local councils, with a network of health visitors and other professionals. The scheme receives funding from Arts Council England.

BookTrust's CEO Diana Gerald said: 'Starting a reading routine early sets young children up to continue reading and enjoying stories as they grow, to find new adventures to get lost in, to experience the simple joy that a story brings.

'Children who read for pleasure, or are read to from a young age are likely to do better at school, as well as being more socially, culturally and emotionally prepared for life.'

Find out more about Bookstart and the packs

Read the full press release here