Booktime is a national programme that promotes reading for pleasure and encourages family engagement in shared reading at an important transition stage in children’s learning and development.
Booktime encourages children, parents and carers to read together for pleasure by giving a free book pack to children starting primary school. Booktime also aims to reach children not accessing mainstream education, through local authority contacts and social inclusion coordinators.
Booktime is the flagship national primary offer from Booktrust, and forms part of a continuum of programmes, projects and prizes inspiring a lifelong love of books for all.
In 2010 the title of the free book that each reception-aged pupil will receive as a gift in the autumn term is "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said the Sloth by Eric Carle (Puffin).
Click the links below to find out more about the programme.
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Booktime in England this year
What will Booktime be doing in England in 2010-11?
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Booktime in review 2009-10
Read all about the highlights of the programme in 2009-10
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Booktime Mr Big case studies
Discover how local authorities and libraries are working with the Booktime packs and resources
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Celebrity support for Booktime
Learn more about Booktime's celebrity supporters
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Booktime in Scotland this year
This Year's Scottish Book Gifting Activities
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Booktime in Northern Ireland
What will Booktime be doing in Northern Ireland this year?
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Order free additional books and resources
A range of additional books and resources has been developed for Booktime in order to reach as many children as possible.
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Booktime Pilot in Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government and Basic Skills Cymru approved the development of a bilingual pilot of Booktime in Wales in 2009-10, fully funded by education and publishing company Pearson.
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Booktime Turns Five
Read how Booktime began and find out more about Booktrust's other gift schemes
