Meet Abby Beverly, a volunteer who leads a weekly rhyme and story time at a London community hub using a BookTrust programme. Here’s her story
Abby leading the rhyme time at Age Exchange Hub in Blackheath, London
“When my daughter was born, we had the BookTrust Baby pack, and I really pushed myself to get good at sharing stories with her. Now, she absolutely loves books.
“I’ve seen a difference in not only her, but in myself, and my connection with her. And I think nursery rhymes are just as important as stories, in terms of being a tool for children.
“I’m partially sighted, and when I first came along to this rhyme time session at the Age Exchange Hub in Blackheath with my daughter, I was going through eye surgery, relying on my senses a lot. My confidence was really low, and it took me about eight months to feel ready to go to that rhyme time session. And when I did, I loved it!”
How Abby put her personal stamp on rhyme time
“Being partially sighted, I was even more reliant on my sense of hearing during rhyme time sessions. I’d be busy trying to hear the instructions, so when other parents were chatting [and I couldn’t hear over them], I sometimes missed out on understanding about the activities and rhymes.
“Makaton and Baby Sign really helped me when I was younger. I had no language before the age of five, so I learnt techniques like these to overcome speech delay.
“I’ve now been running the rhyme time at the Age Exchange Hub time myself as a volunteer for two years. I tweaked it to include more stories and books, and I also do Baby Sign (for example, when we read Colours with a Ladybird by Dawn Sirett, illustrated by Rachael Parfitt Hunt), I’ll sign all the different colours.) Parents that come along are learning to sign from me, it’s lovely to see them copy me.
“I also do a ‘lucky dip’ for rhymes. I’ve laminated drawings with rhymes and songs on, like Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Old MacDonald. It’s really good for when we have a big group, people really enjoy it – it’s always great to hear the regulars say: ‘Let’s have a lucky dip!’
A grab-and-go storytelling kit from BookTrust
“When we got the Bookstart Storyteller backpack last year, it was a game-changer. It has helped make the session more popular, and has given parents and nannies independence to run the rhyme time themselves when I’m not there.
“We’ve got a rhyme time WhatsApp group and, if one week me or my daughter are unwell, and I can message the group and say: ‘Look, in the cupboard for the blue rucksack’.
“They can literally go and grab the Bookstart Storyteller backpack and pick a story or use the rhyme cards and do the rhyme time session without me. They’re happy to pick a book from the BookTrust Storyteller backpack and just read the story together.
“It helps having all the high-quality flash cards with rhymes. BookTrust gives us such a lovely spread of books for different ages, and they’re just so visual.
“During a rhyme time with about 17 children, one little girl was finding it quite overwhelming. One of the nannies who comes along regularly came up and grabbed a couple of books out of the Bookstart Storyteller backpack and started sharing them with this girl, who was then quite happy just looking at the books, having a bit of quiet time.”
“It was lovely, the initiative of that nanny, to just take out the book like that, and it shows how the Bookstart Storyteller backpack is used by our families. It’s literally a tool that you can just grab and use what’s inside to share stories.”
Connecting the community through rhymes and stories
“I’m very proud how I’ve set up my rhyme time group. I’m pleased that it has grown bigger and I’ve had lovely feedback. Every week, a new person joins us.
“One parent with a three-month-old baby, she’s been coming along from Hither Green, which is at least half an hour walk away.
“In Lewisham, we have some parents where English is not their first language, and it’s great that they come regularly. They might not know all the words, but with the Bookstart Storyteller backpack, the tools are all there to support.
“The best part is seeing parents connecting. Hearing them say to each other: ‘Have you read this book? Did you like it?’ And they’ll chat to me and recommend books too. I love that connection with the group.”
Families share why they love Abby’s rhyme times
Abby with the Bookstart Storyteller backpack
“Coming to rhyme time is a really nice part of the week,” says one of Abby’s regular rhyme time attendees. “Abby, is really welcoming, and she makes everyone feel included. It’s a space for the children to play together, to connect. And parents to connect with each other as well.
“The books are really lovely. It’s good for parents to get new inspiration for different things to read. It’s a nice element on top of everything else.“
Maisie has been coming to rhyme time since she was nine months old, and she’s about to turn two. Her mum says: ” She’s excited every time we come here. This group is really a big help for her for socialisation.
“Abby’s really nice, Maisie loves her. I think she knows Abby more than the rest of our family members.
“After all the songs and the kids are a bit hyped up, it’s time for the them to sit down and listen, Abby gets the backpack out, and the kids are excited and aware that it’s story time. Every time she opens it, they know that something fun is going to happen.
“Maisie has started to love reading books because of this. Now, every time my husband gets a book, she will say: “Read book”.
