Keeeeeep reading! Strictly star Ore Oduba teams up with BookTrust for National Bookstart Week

Published on: 21 May 2018 Author: Catriona Wightman

450,000 copies of this year's National Bookstart Week book - A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins - will be given out to families this year.

Ore Oduba

Find out all about National Bookstart Week

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba has teamed up with BookTrust to celebrate National Bookstart Week this year.

Ore stars in a brand new storytime video reading A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins (Walker) - the book that has been chosen to help families celebrate a week of reading fun beginning on 4 June.

450,000 copies of the book will be given out for free to families across the country, with over 32,000 copies going to outreach partners including refuges and food banks.

'I'm delighted to be taking part in BookTrust's National Bookstart Week,' said Ore, who became a father for the first time in January.

'Having recently had our son, my wife and I love reading to him - even at such an early age - as it's so lovely for all of us to spend time together. Shared reading is also a good way to stimulate kids, creating images in their mind that ultimately enable them to express themselves so much better.'

The storytime video is also available in a BSL version on the BookTrust website.

Fun events across the country

National Bookstart Week will be celebrated across the country from 4-10 June with free events for families hosted by libraries, nurseries, bookshops and children's centres.

The theme this year is Bookstart Bird Boogie, with events including bird of prey displays, craft sessions and storytimes - all to celebrate a love of shared reading in families.

'I'm thrilled to know that A Busy Day for Birds will take flight with the wonderful Bookstart programme!' said Lucy.

'It's so important for all young children to have access to the joy that reading can bring and I hope that families up and down the country enjoy sharing this story together!'

Meanwhile, BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald said, 'A Busy Day for Birds is a brilliantly entertaining book - we are thrilled it's been chosen as our National Bookstart Week title.

'Ore's playful and enchanting reading really does bring the book to life and shows parents that reading can be fun and light hearted. We hope families across the country enjoy snuggling down with their copy of the book imagining they are different birds!'

Download the full press release

Topics: Bookstart, National Bookstart Week, News