The Best Start Partnership is proud to support early language, literacy, and learning by providing every school and early years setting with a carefully selected set of 30 high-quality core books. This initiative ensures that all children, in a school or setting, have access to rich, engaging, and stage-appropriate books.
Sharing books with babies and young children is more than just storytime—it’s a powerful way to build language skills, emotional connection, imagination, and a lifelong love of reading. Research shows that children who are exposed to books from an early age are better prepared for school and more likely to succeed in literacy and learning throughout life.
By putting exceptional books into the hands of practitioners, families, and children, the Best Start Partnership aims to:
- Promote daily shared reading experiences
- Support early vocabulary and brain development
- Inspire curiosity and creativity through storytelling
- Encourage bonding between children and their caregivers
Babies (0–18 months)
Top Tips:
- Choose cloth, board, or textured books with bold images and simple text.
- Use a gentle voice and plenty of facial expressions—babies love to watch your face.
- Let babies touch and explore the book. This is how they learn!
- Keep it short and relaxed—it’s okay not to finish the book, you don’t even have to read the words. The power is in the discussion.
📌 Remember: For babies, reading is about connection, not comprehension.
Toddlers (18 months – 3 years)
Top Tips:
- Choose books with repetition, rhyme, and simple stories.
- Ask questions like “What do you see?” or “What happens next?” to encourage conversation.
- Let them turn the pages, point to pictures, and finish familiar phrases.
- Be responsive—if they lose interest, follow their lead.
📌 Books can be read again and again—toddlers thrive on repetition!
Preschoolers (3–5 years)
Top Tips:
- Use voices and expression to bring the story to life.
- Pause to talk about feelings, make predictions, or connect to real-life experiences.
- Encourage children to retell the story in their own words or act it out.
📌 This age is perfect for building listening skills, empathy, and early literacy.
🌟 General Tips for All Ages
- Make it interactive: Talk with children, not just at them.
- Create a routine: Regular storytime builds security and anticipation.
- Be playful and responsive: Laughter, questions, and cuddles are all part of the experience.
- Read anywhere: Indoors, outdoors, on a lap, or under a tree—it all counts!
🧠 Why It Matters
Reading aloud builds early language, boosts brain development, strengthens relationships, and sets the foundation for lifelong learning. Sharing books isn’t a task—it’s a gift.
