Bookstart for practitioners
Please note that as of March 2020, programme and campaign dates and events are subject to change. Check back here for further developments.
This section is aimed at practitioners delivering Bookstart programmes, as well as providing information for those who want to know more about how the programmes work.
Discover how Bookstart links to a range of organisational outcomes, get tips and ideas for gifting the resources to the families you work with, find out about our additional needs packs and much more.
You'll also find tailored guidance for librarians, health visitors, early years practitioners and registrars, along with bespoke sections for Bookstart Coordinators (login required) and for settings delivering Bookstart Corner (use the direct link emailed to you by BookTrust).
Please note: National Bookstart Week has been replaced by Pyjamarama. You can still enjoy all the National Bookstart Week stories, rhymes and activities from 2016-2018 here.
Explore Bookstart for practitioners
Newborn packs: black-and-white booklets
Bookstart's Newborn packs contain a Baby's First Shapes black-and-white booklet and are ideal for gifting to new parents and their babies.
Bookstart Baby
All families with babies aged 0-12 months are eligible to receive a free Bookstart Baby pack. These are usually gifted by health visitors.
Bookstart Treasure
The Bookstart Treasure envelope is gifted to all children when they are 3-4 years old by their nursery, children's centre or other early years setting.
Bookstart Corner
Bookstart Corner is BookTrust's free, targeted programme helping settings to offer support for families so that they can read with their children with confidence.
Additional needs packs
Bookstart is for every child, so families or carers of children age 0-5 are entitled to our additional needs packs alongside the two standard Bookstart packs.
About Bookstart
Established in 1992, Bookstart is the world's first national bookgifting programme, delivering books and resources to every baby and toddler in England and Wales.
History of Bookstart
From a small pilot project 25 years ago to the world’s first national bookgifting programme - a potted history of BookTrust's flagship early years programme.
Bookstart FAQs
Answers to the questions we're most often asked about Bookstart.
Additional offers
Explore our additional early years offers, including the Rhyme Challenge, Newborn black-and-white packs and dual-language books.
Delivering Bookstart
Tailored guidance for librarians, health visitors, early years practitioners and registrars on how best to deliver Bookstart to the families you work with.
Bookstart in Wales
Every child in Wales receives two Bookstart packs from their health visitor, each containing English and Welsh language books, guidance and resources to help families share books, stories and rhymes.
The Bookstart 25th Anniversary Awards
Find out who scooped the top prizes in our 25th Anniversary Awards and what winning meant to them.
Bookstart Coordinators area
The Bookstart Coordinators area of the website contains information on ordering support materials - such as dual-language books and The Rhyme Challenge - marketing, hiring Bookstart Bear costumes, contact lists and resources to download.
Just sign in using the tab at the top of this page to access your content.
If you have any queries please email info@booktrust.org.uk.
Are you a parent or carer?
Visit our families section to find out what Bookstart can offer you - from free packs and additional needs offers to dual language books and black-and-white booklets for newborns.
Find more Bookstart resources
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Looking for inspiration?
Try the Bookfinder
Use our brilliant Bookfinder to get ideas for your next project and search for great books to share in your setting.
Bookstart on Twitter
- It's great to see the Duchess of Cambridge highlighting the importance of the early years! We want everyone to have the best possible start, which is why #Bookstart entitles every child in England & Wales to two free book packs before the age of five ❤️ https://t.co/WDHpVSGMTE https://t.co/9pwRSx4lVf 62 days ago
- RT @NorthTyneLibs: Had a baby during lockdown? You may have missed receiving your #Bookstart Baby Pack. We are offering a catch up service… 164 days ago
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Find books for every occasion
Looking for a brilliant book for a one-year-old? Trying to find something great to read out loud? We may well have the answer - just see for yourself.