Family Secrets author backs mums and dads reading campaign

MEXBOROUGH teen fiction author Gail Jones is backing a drive to get more parents to read books with their children next week.

Gail will join the Big Blue Bookstart Bear at Wickersley Library on Monday — International Children’s Book Day — to launch the Bookstart 20 Pledge, organised to celebrate 20 years of the national reading scheme.

Gail from Mexborough, who is well-known to teenagers for her Family Secrets and Family Fear books, says she is delighted to sign the pledge — an initiative in which adults promise to share 20 books with children over the next 12 months.

The Bookstart 20 Pledge is being held across the country to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bookstart scheme.

Since its launch in 1992, over 30 million free books have been distributed since babies and toddlers started receiving the free packs, which in Rotherham are distributed by the Rotherham Libaries and Archives Service.

Mark Heaton, Group Library manager for Rotherham Borough Council, said reading to young children was vital.

“Reading with children early in life is immensely valuable to their development and the Rotherham library service offers free membership, Bookstart Rhymetime sessions, support for parents encouraging their children to read and free books every day of the week.

“The routine of sharing books, stories, songs and rhymes with babies helps to build pre-literacy skills as well as providing a unique opportunity for parents and carers to build a strong and loving bond with their children.

“Bookstart supporters are being asked to pledge to share at least 20 books with children in 2012. The pledge postcard is available in all Rotherham's libraries and children’s centres and making the pledge is a simple way for people to get into the habit of reading with their children and show support for Bookstart.”

High profile supporters of the Bookstart scheme include HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Coleen Rooney and War Horse author Michael Morpurgo.

Bookstart 20 pledge cards have been distributed to all the libraries or people can sign the pledge online www.booktrust.org.uk/bookgifting/bookstart/bookstart20/.