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Every baby, toddler and three-year-old in Scotland to receive free bag of books
Bookbug Goes Green
Scottish Book Trust today announces the books chosen for the 2020/21 Bookbug Bags that are distributed at no cost to every baby, toddler and 3-year-old in Scotland. The charity will start to roll out new Bookbug bags that have been developed with eco-friendliness in mind, made from recycled plastic bottles.
Every year, Bookbug, the Scottish Government funded initiative, gifts over 800,000 books to families across Scotland. Bookbug bags help children to develop a love of books and promote the health and developmental benefits of sharing stories, songs and rhymes. The new bags will include books by some of the UK’s favourite authors and illustrators including Michelle Sloan, Emily Dodd and Tim Hopgood. The bags also include a selection of materials including new felt Bookbug finger puppets and experience cards.
Bookbug also gifts Gaelic language editions of the selected titles. These can be requested from your local Bookbug Co-ordinator or Bòrd na Gàidhlig Early Years Worker. Three-year-old children in Gaelic Medium Education will receive their Gaelic Bookbug Explorer books from their nursery, which also contain the English titles. Bookbug also provides tactile books to support children with additional needs.
The Bookbug programme is managed by Scottish Book Trust and run in partnership with libraries, local authorities, health professionals and nurseries.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Bookbug programme, which has gifted over 7 million free books since its inception. Every child, toddler and 3-year-old in Scotland will receive a bag of books and activities, handpicked by our panel consisting of Early Years experts. At Scottish Book Trust, we believe it's never too early to start reading to your little one: not only to improve literacy, but also to help bonding between families."
Maree Todd, Minister for Childcare and Early Years, said: “Reading captures the imagination and stimulates a child’s development. It is also a great activity for parents to share with their little ones. We recognise how important it is to introduce babies and children to books as early as possible and encourage parents to play a part in their child’s learning from the start.
“I hope our Bookbug bags will spark a lifelong love and appreciation of books and storytelling for those receiving them. The Bookbug bags are a vital resource for children and families in Scotland that can help to close the attainment gap in both literacy and numeracy between young people from different backgrounds.”
The books to be distributed free in Bookbug bags to every baby, toddler and 3-year-old in Scotland in the coming year are as follows:
Bookbug Baby Bag
· What a Wonderful World (OUP) by Tim Hopgood, based on the song by Louis Armstrong
· What's That Noise? Snap! Snap! (Child's Play) by Cocoretto
· This Bonny Baby (Floris) by Kasia Matyjaszek and Michelle Sloan
· Experience Cards
· Song & Rhyme book
· Song & Rhyme Library Postcard
Bookbug Toddler Bag
· Tall and Short (Little Tiger) by Fhiona Galloway and Jonathan Litton
· Everybunny Dance! (Hodder Children's Books) by Ellie Sandall
· Happy to Be Me (Orchard Books) by Emily Dodd
· Bookbug finger puppet
· Toddler height chart
· Toddler pad
· Song & Rhyme book
· Song & Rhyme Library postcard
· Bookbug crayons
· Parent Club Early Learning and Childcare booklet
Bookbug Explorer Bag
· The Lion Inside (Orchard Books) by Jim Field and Rachel Bright
· The Cow Who Fell to Earth (Jonathan Cape) by Nadia Shireen
· The Same But Different Too (Nosy Crow) by Karl Newson and Kate Hindley
· Explorer activity book
· Explorer parent leaflet
· Song & Rhyme Library postcard
· Colouring pencils
· Postcard set
Scottish Book Trust's Bookbug app is available for parents/carers and children to enjoy together. The free app is designed to complement Bookbug Bags and Bookbug Sessions, offering greater accessibility to rhymes and songs to families across Scotland. The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.