Babies and books: why you should read to them

By the end of their first year lucky babies will have enjoyed a rich variety of stories and rhymes and will be well on the way to becoming book-lovers. They may be addicted to the sharing time too and will want it to continue long after they are good readers themselves. This ongoing shared reading will help you to be involved in your child's learning throughout the school years.

Book Trust's Bookstart project gives books and information about reading to parents taking their baby for the seven to nine month health check. The first Bookstart babies are now at school and research showed them to be ahead of other children in all the reading and numeracy baseline tests. We've always known that reading with children is a huge pleasure and now we know it gives them a great start at school too. The project also invites babies to join the library - so important if your baby is to have access to the wonderful range of books available for today's children.

For more information about 'Bookstart' see the Book Trust website at www.booktrust.org.uk