Kirsty Sinclair
Scottish Book Trust
scottishbooktrust.com
Bookbug and children's libraries
Some context:
• 5.4 million people
• 32 local authorities
• 240,000 children
living in poverty
• Public libraries
• Funding
Ima
ge
by R
ach
el H
ein
.
We believe it’s never too early –
or too late – to begin a magical
journey with words.
Main aim
Encourage families to
talk, sing, read and
cuddle with their
children from birth, and
before.
In 2018/19 234,141
Bookbug Bags were
given to children
across Scotland
56,666 Baby Bags
57,376 Toddler Bags
59,801 Explorer Bags
60,298 Primary 1 Family Bags
2,884 Gaelic Bookbug Bags
Bookbug Bags
Scottish Government’s Baby Box
The Baby Box contains
two Bookbug baby books
scottishbooktrust.com/baby
Tactile books for children
with additional needs
scottishbooktrust.com/bookbug/asn
26,883 sessions held across Scotland from April
2018 to March 2019.
A total of 719,680 parents and children attended;
9% increase on last year.
Bookbug Sessions
Bookbug’s Library Challenge
Bookbug's Library Challenge
is fun way to encourage
children from birth to discover
and enjoy their local library.
It's free to take part!
Song and rhyme content
• Over 21,000
downloads
• 800,000 songs and
rhymes listened to
Bookbug App and Bookbug's
Song & Rhyme Library
scottishbooktrust.com/songandrhyme
Dolly Parton’s Imagination
Library
For all Looked After Children and
all adopted children in Scotland
from birth to the age of five.
An average of 2,344 children
receiving books every month
Children from a
lower socio-
economic
background will go
to school having
heard
32 million fewer
words than their
middle class peers.
Wolf, M. (2008) Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain. Icon Books.
Bookbug for the
Home• Remove barriers to
ensure all families can
experience the benefits
of sharing books, songs
and rhymes
• Provide high-quality
training, resources and
support for professionals
and volunteers working
with families with young
children
“It was only when I introduced Bookbug
to family support sessions that I observed
a mum and her young child laugh and
play together. The joy expressed was
priceless.”
Family Support Worker, Third Sector
Strategic FitCurriculum
for Excellence
GIRFEC
Scottish Reading
Strategy for Public
Libraries
Early Years Framework
UNCRCChildren &
Young People Act
Children & Young
Peoples’ Improvement Collaborative
Play Strategy for
Scotland
National Parenting Strategy
Literacy Action Plan
Bookbug Impact Study key
findings
• High quality
• Understandable & easy to use
• Transferable into different local settings
• Hugely respected by those involved
Evaluating the Impact of Bookbug Bags and Sessions in Scotland
CRFR, University of Edinburgh (2017)