Bookstart celebrations a success

Parents and children have fun at pirate themed Bookstart Bonanza.

Bookstart celebrations were a big success at Balderstone library last Friday.

The pirate themed fancy dress party saw 23 adults and 45 children participating in a sing, sign and rhyme session at the library followed by a treasure hunt at Sandbrook Children’s centre.

Sponsored by more than 20 children’s publishers with central funding from Surestart, Bookstart is a national programme which encourages parents and carers to enjoy books with their children from as early an age as possible. Their aim is to help children develop a lifelong love of books by giving free books to children at around eight months, eighteen months and three years along with free guidance for parents and carers.

Principal Librarian Maureen Watson from Rochdale Council said: “This is giving children a gift for life. It was an absolutely fantastic morning and we had a great turn out. Everyone got into the spirit of things and it was lovely to see all the children and staff in fancy dress. We wish to thank Sandbrook Children’s Centre for their support.”

All children who attended received a free pirate book, stickers and balloons.