Bookshine

Bookshine aims to help deaf babies and toddlers to get 'bookstarted'.
 
A Bookshine pack is available free to parents or carers of deaf children up to (and including) the age of four.
 
Packs contain two specially chosen books designed to stimulate children's senses, including a touch and feel book and a nursery rhyme book featuring BSL signs.

Full list of contents

• Good quality cotton shoulder bag
   
• Two board books
   
• A Bookshine booklet of advice about sharing books with deaf children
   
• A Bookshine book guide listing lots more great books, as well as useful organisations and resources
   
• A nursery rhyme place mat featuring two rhymes and photographs of babies signing.

(NB: By Autumn 2008 an alternative picture book option with BSL bookmark will also be available for children of 2-4 years).

When do you gift this pack?

Packs are usually given out to eligible babies and children by their health visitor.

If this is not the case, they may still receive one at their local library. Ideally parents should bring their health record book along with them.

To order Bookshine packs, please speak to your Bookstart scheme coordinator.

Please note: Booktrust uses the term 'deaf' to describe people across the range of deafness/hearing loss. Bookstart also uses the abbreviation "BSL" to refer to British Sign Language, and acknowledges that some families use other forms of signing.