Book Crawl is a new library scheme especially for children from 0-5, and the good news is that it's free.

If you’d like your child to take part why not pick-up a collector’s card next time you visit Your Local Library. Each time your child borrows a book they will receive a sticker, and once they have collected five they will be presented with a colourful certificate, as seen below.

There are five beautiful designs for them to collect, and each one has been illustrated by a popular children’s artist – Catherine and Laurence Anholt, Rod Campell, Penny Dale, Lara Jones and Hilda Offen. Other artists are being invited to donate further illustrations for certificates, and this will give children the opportunity to build up a collection as keepsakes of their earliest years as library members.

Enjoy a book and a cuddle! Book Crawl helps to promote book sharing as an important activity for parents and their young children. It can also help encourage language development and pre-school literacy, so it's well worth a visit to your library to browse through the many excellent books on offer.

There are no fines on overdue books for under fives and all babies and toddlers joining will now receive a special illustrated library ticket.

"We have had a fantastic response from the children and their parents or carers since we introduced the Book Crawl scheme in October 2004.  Over 65 children are now taking part in the scheme and the figure keeps on increasing.  It is hard to tell who is more enthusiastic, the children or their parents!  In any case, the scheme has helped to "break the ice" for some adults who have not used the library for some time and, to our delight  they have been encouraged to become regular library-users once again with their young children." - Béatrice Coveney, Assistant-in-Charge Crediton Library