Pirate fever is spreading across Cumbria as parents and toddlers excitedly prepare for a pirate themed party to celebrate National Bookstart Day on Friday 10 October.
Bookstart aims to help every child in the UK develop a lifelong love of books, and this year's programme will offer millions of children and parents the chance to discover the joy of reading together. Posters, bookmarks and stickers have been designed especially for the day by 'Portside Pirates' illustrator Debbie Harter.
There are a host of events taking place across Cumbria, mainly on Friday 10 October:
Penrith Library - Monday 6 October 10.30am-11.30am Penrith is holding a pirate party and a Bookstart treasure chest presentation to local nursery children.
Barrow Library - Friday 10 October 10.30am-12 noon The library is working with the Dock Museum, with activities including boat -building, songs, stories, and presentations of treasure chests to local nursery children.
Whitehaven Library - Friday 10 October 10.30-11.30 Working with The Beacon, there will be crafts, songs, stories, and a treasure chest presentation to children from ABC nursery. The library is also visiting Silloth toddlers' group at 10.45am
Carlisle Library - Friday 10 October 10.30am-11.30am There is a Pirate Party for local nursery children, including a Bookstart presentation.
Kendal Library - Friday 10th October 10.30-11.30 The library is inviting a local nursery for games, stories and piratical grog - followed by a treasure chest presentation.
Every library across Cumbria will be handing out stickers and rhyme sheets, and there are pirate-themed colouring sheets and things to make at every venue.
Kathy Bartlett, Cumbria’s Bookstart Project Officer, said:
"Bookstart is a fantastic programme that gives all families the opportunity to discover the joy of books together. I love seeing the children’s faces when they receive their wonderful free packs of books."
For further information on Bookstart in Cumbria contact Kathy Bartlett on 01229 404127 or kathy.bartlett@cumbriacc.gov.uk. Please put 'Bookstart' in the subject line of your email.
For further information on Bookstart and Booktrust please contact Katherine Solomon on 020 8875 4583 or katherine@booktrust.org.uk
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Notes
Bookstart is run by Booktrust, an independent national charity that encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover and enjoy reading.
Bookstart is the national book-gifting programme that encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible. We want every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books. Bookstart is a public and private partnership and is generously sponsored by children’s book publishers. Central funding is provided through the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and the Department for Children, Schools and Families in England.
Working through local authorities and primary care trusts, Bookstart gives the gift of free books to children at around eight months, 18 months and three years, along with guidance materials for parents and carers. Bookstart also aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities. Parents wishing to receive a pack should speak to their Health Visitor or contact their local library.
Among Booktrust’s other projects are the Booktrust Early Years Awards, Booktrust Teenage Prize, Children’s Book Week, the Children’s Laureate and the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction.
Booktrust has developed two further book-gifting programmes in the UK: Booktime, run in association with Pearson, gives a free book to every Year One pupil and Booked Up, which gives a free book from a choice of twelve, to every Year Seven pupil. The Letterbox Club is the most recent addition to Booktrust range of book-gifting programmes and is aimed at Looked after Children. The Letterbox Club will be launched in September 2008
The 2008 National Year of Reading is a year-long celebration of reading, in all its forms. It aims to build a greater national passion for reading –for children, families and adult learners alike. The Year will encourage people to read in businesses, homes, and communities around the country, providing new opportunities to read and helping people to access help and support through schools and libraries. To get involved and sign up to Year of Reading activities in your area, log on to http://www.yearofreading.org.uk/ (external link).
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Alison Lister, Media Officer on 01228 226335