£5m for nursery books
29 Nov 2007
Public libraries will be given up to half a million new books to loan to local nurseries in book boxes under a new scheme launched yesterday by Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls.
The scheme ‘Book Ahead’ is part of a £5 million initiative to encourage more under 5s – particularly boys – into reading early. It will be launched as part of the National Year of Reading in 2008.
The libraries will be able to choose free books from a list drawn up by the School Library Association. The boxes will include new picture books, classics and stories to read aloud. Parents will also be given tips to help their young children become familiar with books.
Launching the scheme Ed Balls said: “We must get young children into reading as early as possible – particularly boys and their dads.”
