BOOKBUG Week, the annual celebration of Scotland’s national book-gifting programme, has kicked off, with this year’s theme exploring journeys big and small.
Bookbug, Scottish Government funding for which over 2022/23 has been increased by £1.7 million, is developed in partnership between the national literature and literacy charity the Scottish Book Trust, local authorities, libraries, children’s publishers and health trusts across the nation, and provides free books to every baby, toddler, three and five-year-old in Scotland.
Events lined up for this year’s Bookbug Week include an online art tutorial for children's illustrator Dylan Gibson, and a live online reading and draw-along by Katrina Charman and Nick Sharratt, author and artist of the books Car, Car, Truck Jeep and The Whales on the Bus.
Bookbug Sessions – which provide free and family-friendly performances of song and story – will also return in person around the country, while families can also access Bookbug’s Song and Rhyme library via the Scottish Book Trust website and the free Bookbug app.
READ MORE: Rangers team fly to Seville in Boris Johnson's Union flag 'Brexit jet'
Commenting, Scotland’s Children and Young People Minister Clare Haughey said: “I am very excited for Bookbug Week 2022 'Bookbug's Big Journey', knowing families will be able to enjoy sessions in libraries and community settings.
“Bookbug helps to encourage an early love of books among children while also providing great opportunities for parents and their wee ones to spend time together, having fun and learning.
“I am very proud that we have a universal national programme in Scotland, which supports all families to enjoy reading with their children from the earliest opportunity. As well as laying the foundations of early literacy, the Bookbug sessions help to promote positive interactions and attachment for families, which we know is key to children’s health and wellbeing in the long term.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here