National Bookstart Day 2008
Friday 10 October is National Bookstart Day 2008 and the theme is Pirates Ahoy!
We've produced promotional materials including posters, bookmarks and stickers using the wonderful artwork of Debbie Harter, illustrator of the book Port Side Pirates.
All children’s centres (only in England) will receive one folder with:
- 1 A2 poster
- 2 A3 event posters
- 3 A4 posters
- 100 bookmarks - bundled in 25s
- 200 individual stickers (on sheets)
- 40 rhymetime sheets
- 100 Pirates Ahoy books
All other early years settings will be sent materials from their scheme coordinators.
Promotional materials
Promotional materials will be sent in late July to all children's centres in England.
We hope that you will join us in the celebrations by:
- using the free resources (bookmarks and stickers)
- running your own Bookstart Rhymetime event singing rhymes or reading stories to babies and toddlers
There are further resources available here to download, along with suggested activities and fun ideas to make this year's National Bookstart Day a wonderful celebration.
Rhymesheets
| We've created special Rhymetime sheets in English and Welsh, using Debbie's illustration. Rhymetime sheets are size A4. You can download these below: | ||||
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Posters | |||||
 | Our colourful posters are ideal for promoting your National Bookstart Day events and are available to download below:
A4 standard posters | ||||
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| Events posters | |||||
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Activities
There are lots of fun activities, including activity and colouring-in sheets to download and other great ideas to mark the day. Scroll down and take a look...
Colouring-in sheets
| Sheet 1 | Sheet 2 | Sheet 3 | ||
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| Click to download... | Click to download... | Click to download... |
 | Pirate's hats Some black paper, a round plate and a pair of scissors and you're away! | ||||||
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 | Ship's rats | ||||||
Further suggestions
Here are some other suggested ideas, activities and rhymes for your themed National Bookstart Day event:
- Face-painting
Children can be transformed into a blue bear or a colourful ship's parrot with these easy-to-follow steps.
Download: Face-painting techniques
- Further pirate rhymes
More suggested rhymes to go with the National Bookstart Day rhymesheets
Download: Pirate rhymes
- Pirate map
X marks the spot - invite children to locate the missing gold, or bear, or whatever takes your fancy, with a special Treasure Hunt.
Thanks to Bookstart in Cornwall for drawing up this fantastic map:
Download: Pirate map
Suggested books
 | Here's a list of suggested books to accompany your National Bookstart Day rhymetime or storytime event. Let us know your suggestions for more books and rhymes on the Discussion Board. |
We hope that you will continue to lend your invaluable support to our shared aim of encouraging every child to develop a lifelong love of books and reading. Please join us in celebrating National Bookstart Day on Friday 10 October 2008.