Published 17th July 2017
Inspire libraries across Nottinghamshire will be celebrating National Bookstart Week with fun activities especially for under 5’s, to encourage families to have fun reading together, anywhere and anytime.
National Bookstart Week 2017 takes place from June 5 to 11 and this year has an ‘Explore Outdoors’ theme.
There will be special Rattle, Rhyme and Roll and Storyhullabaloo sessions at 44 libraries across the county. This year’s theme provides the perfect opportunity to share and enjoy rhymes, books and stories about the outdoors and playing outside.
The Bookstart Bear will also be popping in at selected sessions during the week. Little ones will have the chance to meet the loveable blue bear at events at Bingham, Carlton, Cotgrave, Hucknall, Mansfield Central, Misterton, Retford and Worksop libraries. The Bear will also pay a visit to Kingsmill hospital during the week.
Children who attend any of the events will receive a free copy of the picture book Everybunny Dance! by Ellie Sandall. Children’s reading charity BookTrust, supported by Hodder Children’s Books, has more than 450,000 copies to give away.
National Bookstart Week is an annual celebration of BookTrust’s flagship reading programme, Bookstart, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Bookstart gives every child in England and Wales a free reading pack in the first year of their life and again when they are 3-4 years old.
BookTrust works to remind families of the importance of reading for pleasure – even if it’s just for ten minutes a day. In Nottinghamshire, last year more than 15,000 Bookstart packs were gifted to children.
Councillor John Cottee, Committee Chairman for Communities and Place at Nottinghamshire County Council, said:
“This scheme is a hugely valuable part of the library service for children and families.
“National Bookstart Week is one of the many ways we are supporting children to develop the reading habit as introducing books at an early age helps develop a love of reading that can last a lifetime.”
National Bookstart Week events featuring a visit from the Bookstart Bear
Carlton Library Manor Road Carlton Nottingham NG4 3AY Monday 5 June 10 – 11am Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
Hucknall Library
South Street
Hucknall
Nottinghamshire
NG15 7BS Tuesday 6 June 10.30-11am Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
Cotgrave Library
Cotgrave Shopping Centre
Cotgrave
Nottingham
NG12 3JQ Tuesday 6 June 2.30-3pm Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
Retford Library
Churchgate
Retford
Nottinghamshire
DN22 6PE Wednesday 7 June 10– 10.30am Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
Mansfield Central Library Four Seasons Centre West Gate Mansfield Nottinghamshire NG18 1NH Thursday 8 June 10-10.30am Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
Worksop Library
Memorial Avenue
Worksop
Nottinghamshire
S80 2BP Thursday 8 June 2– 2.30pm Rattle Rhyme and Roll
Bingham Library
Eaton Place
Bingham
Nottingham
NG13 8BE Friday 9 June 10.30-11.00am Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
Misterton Community
Partnership Library
High Street
Misterton
Doncaster
S Yorkshire
DN10 4BU Saturday 10 June 11.20 - 11.50am Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
The Bookstart Bear will also be popping up the following week at these libraries
East Leake Library Gotham Road East Leake Loughborough Leicestershire LE12 6JG Monday 12 June 2.30 – 3pm Story Hullabaloo
Keyworth Library Church Drive Keyworth Nottingham NG12 5FF Tuesday 13 June 2.30 – 3pm Rattle, Rhyme and Roll
There is more under 5s fun happening in Mansfield Market Place on Friday 16 June with an extra special Rattle, Rhyme and Roll taking place during Inspire’s Be Curious, Be Inspired event which is part of Sinfonia Viva’s Cabinet of Curiosity Tour, in an eye catching purple dome. More information available here
There are lots more events happening in libraries, which are now run by Inspire on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council. Ask in your local library for more information.
