Hundreds of free ‘Big Adventure’ events will be held during Bookbug Week. Bookbug, Scotland’s national book gifting programme, today announces details of its annual Bookbug Week celebrations, which will see thousands of families taking part in free events across the country between 20 and 26 May.
This year’s celebrations are based around the theme of Bookbug’s Big Adventure. Babies, toddlers and their parents are invited to gather at special free events across Scotland to enjoy mini adventures and wild rhymes, exciting stories and energetic songs. Children who attend the events will receive a special Bookbug Week rhyme mat featuring adventure-themed songs and rhymes, with beautiful artwork by Scottish illustrator Cate James. Parents also have a chance to win a set of her books in daily prize draws on Facebook during Bookbug Week.
Bookbug is Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years programme, encouraging parents and children to read together from birth. The programme gifts a total of 540,000 free books to every baby, toddler, three year old and Primary One child in Scotland every year. Over 240,000 children in Scotland benefitted last year, with even more set to receive free books in 2013 and 2014.
Bookbug also runs regular free story, song and rhyme events called Bookbug Sessions, which attracted audiences of half a million parents and children in 2011-12, and are held in libraries, shopping centres and other community venues.
The Bookbug week Flagship event will be held at Vogrie Country Park in Midlothian, where hundreds of parents and young children will celebrate the programme by exploring the great outdoors with the Midlothian Ranger Service and joining Bookbug for some songs, rhymes and stories.
For details of local Bookbug Week events, just visit www.scottishbooktrust.com/bookbug or ask at your local library.
Anna Gibbons, Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years Programme Manager, said, “Bookbug hopes that everyone will join in with his Big Adventure and spread the message that sharing books with young children is free, fantastic and fun!â€
 Edinburgh-based picture book illustrator Cate James has selected her Top Ten Picture Book Adventures to Enjoy with your Children. These are:
Claire Freedman and Kate Hindley
This adventure revolves around a spooky house and a scary monster, or does it? I always love Kate Hindley’s illustrations. Her characters are beautifully drawn and full of personality.
2. The Green Ship (Red Fox Picture Books)
Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake is my absolute hero. This story is a lovely childhood summer holiday adventure set aboard a very special ship.
Oliver Jeffers
Any book with aeroplanes, martians and a random penguin is going to be great. A beautiful tale of friendship and intergalactic rescue.
4. Rosie’s Walk
Pat Hutchins
This is my favourite book from my childhood. To the untrained eye, Rosie is off for a wander…but who is following her? I love the muted colours.
5. Nature
Alain Gree
Not strictly speaking a tale of adventure, but definitely an encyclopaedia of all the ingredients necessary for an adventure outdoors. Absolutely gorgeous.
Maurice Sendak
A classic. Max is naughty, and he’s also not afraid of the wild things.
7. The Troll
Julia Donaldson and David Roberts
The Troll accidentally stows away on a pirate ship. Luckily for him, he is an excellent cook! This book has a great layout, and beautiful illustrations with plenty of detail.
8. Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs (Picture Puffin)
Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto
This book is three stories in one, with all the best components of a perfect adventure. Maybe there are pirates and dinosaurs at the back of your art cupboard too?
9. South
Patrick McDonnell
A tale told without words. A birdie is left behind and tries to find his flock with the help of a cat with a big nose. I love the painted illustrations.
10.The Snowman
Raymond Briggs
Everyone knows The Snowman. I like to look at Raymond Briggs’ illustrations all year round, not just at Christmas.
Bookbug is Scotland’s national book gifting programme, encouraging parents and children to share books together from birth. We gift books to every baby, toddler, 3 and 5-year-old in Scotland in five Bookbug packs:
Baby pack (gifted by a health visitor to every baby)
Toddler pack (gifted by a health visitor to every toddler)
Pirate pack (gifted at nursery to every 3-year-old )
P1 book (gifted at school to every P1 pupil)
Dolly Parton Imagination Library (free books delivered monthly to every Looked After Child aged 0-5 in Scotland)
