Bear’s Reading Adventure

This week is Children’s Book Week and Suffolk Libraries are celebrating by launching a new reading resource for young children and their families.

BookTrust has recently introduced new ‘Bear’s Reading Adventure’ sticker books and Suffolk Libraries has distributed nearly 4,000 throughout the county’s libraries.

Bear’s Reading Adventure is a new sticker storybook aimed at children aged 0-5 which has ten missing stickers for them to collect.  It was developed following consultation with library services over ways to encourage families to visit the library and read together every day. Suffolk Libraries tested the storybooks on a small number of families last year and they proved very popular.

Krystal Vittles, Innovation and Development Manager at Suffolk Libraries, said:

“We are delighted to be able to be able to share this new resource which has been provided by Booktrust. Bear’s Reading Adventure is designed to help libraries achieve the aims of the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians’ (ASCEL) Children’s Promise, to provide opportunities for families to participate and engage with their local library services and to make library visits inspiring and exciting. We hope many young families will be visiting the library to get their free pack.”

Children will be given a new sticker as an incentive every time they visit the library to encourage families to use the library more regularly. When a child has collected all ten stickers they can download a certificate to celebrate their success. Bear’s Reading Adventure also contains tips for families on how they can have fun reading together every day.

Several libraries will be celebrating the launch of Bear’s Reading Adventure with special Teddy Bears Picnic events next week – these events are all on Thursday (10 November) except Haverhill’s which is on the Tuesday (8th).

Details are as follows:

Tuesday 8 November – Haverhill Library – Teddy bears’ picnic from 9.30am to 1pm. Bring your teddy to the library for refreshments, fun activities and a chance to meet Bookstart Bear.

Thursday 10 November:

Kedington Library – Bring your teddy to our regular Storytime session from 4pm for homemade biscuits and cake supplied by Friends of Kedington Library. Bookstart Bear will also be at the library.

Chantry Library in Ipswich – Bring your Teddy to the Library from 9.30am to 1pm. Bring your teddy bear on a trip to the library for storytelling, treasure hunting, a picnic and crafts.

Needham Market Library – Teddy bears’ picnic from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Bring your teddy to the library for stories, crafts and a picnic lunch and collect your free ‘Bear’s Reading Adventure’ sticker book. Book a place at the library or call 01449 720780.

Gainsborough Community Library in Ipswich – Teddy bears’ picnic from 11am to 1pm. Bring your teddy to the library to celebrate the launch of Bear’s Reading Adventure. Teddy crisps, juice and fruit provided, or you can bring your own drinks and snacks.

www.suffolklibraries.co.uk