Pre-school children in Devon are benefiting from the expansion of the national Bookstart scheme, which will provide two extra packs of books, and like the Bookstart Baby pack, they are both free. The scheme encourages parents to share books with their pre-school child, and provides them with free books and advice on using books with children. The idea is based on the simple premise that children who have an early introduction to books benefit educationally, culturally, socially and emotionally. Okehampton and Tavistock libraries are among the session venues ? Okehampton on Wednesday May 24 and Tavistock the following day. Research into the project, carried out by Birmingham University and the University of Surrey, has confirmed these benefits. Since 1999, Devon Libraries have been working in partnership with health visitors to provide babies with the Bookstart Baby pack. When parents take their babies for the eight-month health check, they are presented with a shoulder bag containing two board books, a book list, a nursery rhyme book, advice for parents and information about libraries. Devon Libraries began introducing the new pack last autumn for two year olds, again working closely with Health Visitors. The free Bookstart Plus pack comes in a brightly coloured satchel with two books, a scribble pad, crayons, a numbers frieze, a booklist, a book for parents about early language and listening skills and a set of bookplates. In December, the new Bookstart pack for three year olds, called ?My Treasure Box?, was also introduced in parts of Devon and rolled out to pre-schools, nurseries, childminders and playgroups. The third pack is a box containing two children?s books, a book for adults with ideas on language development, a booklist, a set of bookplates, a pack of coloured pencils, a pencil sharpener and an A4 colouring pad. The Treasure Box even has its own secret compartment, where children can hide all their private information. The Bookstart Bear is coming to Devon to help celebrate the good news about the Bookstart packs. It will be popping in to Bounce and Rhyme sessions and Story Times in libraries across the region to meet some of the young library members and join in with the fun.
