The Bookstart Bear visited libraries all over the county in July as part of our National Year of Reading celebration of ‘Rhythm and Rhyme’, joining in with Bounce and Rhyme sessions and Story Time events for young children.

On Tuesday 1^st the Bear dropped in on a Teddy Bears Picnic in the Park in Bideford. Babies and toddlers were sitting on blankets on the grass in the warm sunshine enjoying songs and stories with members of staff from the local library. The Bookstart Bear joined in with some of the songs, including ‘Heads and shoulders, knees and toes’, and the children showed him their own teddies. There was a free draw for some books, and the children even had some teddy bear biscuits as well.

There are Story Time and Baby Bounce and Rhyme sessions in Bideford Library every Monday at 14:00 to 14:30pm for children aged 0-5 with their carers. The sessions are free and there is no need to book.

On Thursday 3rd, children in Barnstaple Library who had come along to Toddler Time were listening to the story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, and were quite surprised to see the Bookstart Bear walking across the library and waving hello to them. They enjoyed watching the Bear try out some action rhymes with them and act out a story about a Bear that was fast asleep, only to be woken up by a bee. There was another free draw for books, and then the children made teddy bear masks and pictures. All the children had photos of themselves with the Bear to take home.

There are regular Toddler Time events in Barnstaple Library every Thursday at 11:00 to 11:30am for children aged 2+ with their carers. Baby Bounce and Rhyme sessions for babies and toddlers with their parents or carers are held every Wednesday and Friday between 10:30 and 11:00am. Come along and join in with some old favourites, and maybe learn some new ones as well. The sessions are all free and there is no need to book.

Regular Storytime or Bounce and Rhyme sessions are held at the following libraries.

There are three free Bookstart packs which all children are entitled to receive. They each contain two free books together with other leaflets, book lists, etc. The Bookstart Baby pack is handed out by health visitors at the 7 – 9 month health check, and the Bookstart Plus pack, which is for two year olds, is also available through health visitors. The Treasure Chest pack is for children aged three and is normally distributed in pre-schools, nurseries and playgroups. If any child has for any reason missed receiving a pack, parents are welcome to contact the Early Years Librarian in Barnstaple Library, telephone 01271 388624.