Bookstart for families

Sharing books, stories and rhymes with your child from an early age can help nurture a love of reading that is shown to have a lifelong and positive impact.

Bookstart is here to guide you on your child's reading journey from 0-5 years.

With Bookstart, BookTrust reaches over 90% of newborn babies and more than 400,000 toddlers and preschoolers in England and Wales each year. Bookstart is also available to children with additional needs and in dual languages.

Find out how you can get your packs and explore our website. You'll find interactive storybooks and games, themed booklists, a Bookfinder to give you inspiration, activities to make and do at home and much more.

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Bookstart - sharing stories and rhymes from 0-5

A Bookstart Baby pack featuring an envelope, Baby's Very First Lift-the-Flap Peek-a-boo, a guide for parents and carers and a finger puppet

Bookstart Baby and dual-language books

Bookstart Baby packs are gifted free to all babies before they turn one. Free dual-language books are also available for families with English as an additional language.

Bookstart Family Hub

Welcome to the dedicated digital space for families with children aged 0-5.

The Bookstart Shine Baby pack featuring Little Tiger Where Are You and the Bookstart Shine Toddler pack featuring Colours with a Ladybird

Additional needs packs

Bookstart is for every child. Find out more about our free Bookstart Shine, Bookstart Touch and Bookstart Star additional needs packs.

Mother and son at a Big Welsh Rhyme Time event

Bookstart in Wales

Through Bookstart, BookTrust Cymru gives every child in Wales their own books to have at home and supports families to read together regularly.

Mum and smiling boy looking at library books

What is Bookstart?

Bookstart is designed to help babies, toddlers and preschoolers discover the magic of shared reading from their earliest days. It encourages a love of books, stories and rhymes, giving children the chance to benefit from the life-changing positive impact of reading.

Rhymetimes

Enjoy songs, rhymes and rhythm with your child at your local library, nursery or children's centre - Rhymetimes are free and fun for everyone.

Do you work with children aged 0-5?

Visit our Bookstart for practitioners section for tailored information, guidance and resources to help you deliver our flagship early years programme.

Explore Bookstart for practitioners

Looking for your next story? Try our Bookfinder

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Step 2: Choose a type of book
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Get perfect picture book ideas

Our themed booklists are full of brilliant book ideas for little ones. Just print them out or jot them down and see what you can pick up at your local library.