About us
What is Booktime
Booktime is the national free books programme for reception-aged children. Booktime provides a free book pack for every child aged 4-5 years in England to share and enjoy with their family and friends.
Lenny Henry helped to launch the 2011 Booktime programme
- Booktime aims to give a free book pack to every eligible child soon after they first start primary school, with guidance for parents and carers on shared reading
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Booktime promotes the pleasure of books by encouraging families to have fun reading together. The programme supports, encourages and enables reading for pleasure at home at an important transition stage in a child's learning and development.
- As a universal bookgifting programme, Booktime aims to deliver high quality books for every eligible child and their family to keep.
- Targeted resources are also provided for children with additional needs and are available through the Booktime website. Local authority and partner agency contacts help to deliver a Booktime book pack to eligible children (aged 4-5 years) who may not be accessing mainstream education.
- Booktime is run by independent charity Booktrust and Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. The programme was launched in 2006 and this year will give its six millionth free book.
Booktime gives you
- Free books to read with your child
- Support and guidance for you to help make your child a confident reader
- Resources to support your child's reading and engagement with the Booktime book
- A place to find everything you need to share books, stories and activities with your child, online
Find out about this year's Booktime book packs
This year's Booktime book packs will be delivered to reception aged children in England from October 2011.
Find out more about the Booktime books
This year’s books are the vibrant, Africa-set Why Elephant has a Trunk and colourful, engaging photo book Face Painting
Booktime in schools
Booktime works with approximately 17,500 primary schools in England each year.
Read about how Booktime works with libraries
Booktime works in partnership with libraries across England each year.
