Bookstart Week encourages young people to read
The fantasy world of fairy tales will be brought to life in the borough’s libararies from Monday, as Hounslow celebrates Bookstart Week.
The Bookstart scheme encourages young children to read, offers free books to inspire a love for reading and gives advice and ideas to parents about reading with their children.
Cllr Ajmer Grewal, cabinet member for leisure and public health, said: “This week is a great opportunity to encourage young children to love books and love reading, as well as helping to develop and improve literacy levels.
“Children have the most fantastic imaginations and nothing feeds this more than a book that allows them to simply disappear into their own magical world. If they learn this skill when young, it can last them a lifetime.”
This year, local libraries will be giving away copies of the classic story Ugly Duckling, thanks to the support of the publisher Child’s Play.
At Osterley Library, there will be a free party for under-5s to launch Bookstart Week on Monday 24 June, starting at 2pm. Children can come dressed as their favourite fairy tale character, have their face painted and join in a range of art and craft activities. There will also be special story-telling sessions, songs to sing and rhymes to recite, with a soft toy prize draw of a Bookstart bear.
Activities will also be held at the Boston Manor House library room on Saturday 29 June as part of the celebrations, and other libraries will have their own special events taking place throughout the week.
Bookstart Week runs from Monday 24 June until Sunday 30 June. For more information, or to find out what else is happening at your local library, visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/libraries.
June 22, 2013