A Free Peter Rabbit x Bookstart Baby Book for Newborns
Did you know that this year, every baby born in the UK will receive a brand new Peter Rabbit book? For the first time, a new story - Peter Rabbit: Four Happy Bunnies - has been created exclusively for BookTrust’s Bookstart Baby programme, an initiative that has supported families with newborn babies for over 30 years.
We talked to Caroline Hill-Trevor, Head of Book Selection and Purchasing at BookTrust, to find out all about the initiative!
[Image top left: Her Majesty The Queen launches Four Happy Bunnies with Peter Rabbit at Clarence House. Photo: Ian Jones Photography]
1. What is Bookstart Baby?
Bookstart Baby is a programme run by BookTrust, the UK’s largest reading charity. Through the programme, every child in the UK aged 0 to 12 months is eligible for our free book pack. The packs, which include a carefully selected book to support healthy development in babies, as well as supporting resources, are designed to help families to read and share stories with their child from as early as possible.
2. Why did you choose Peter Rabbit?
Peter Rabbit is a classic character who has a nostalgia value for both parents and grandparents that can encourage them to begin sharing the story. The TV show is popular with young families too. But it’s Peter’s warmth, playfulness and the clear storytelling which make him perfect for getting people to pick up the book and start sharing it with their children, regardless of whether they already know the character.
"Progressing through a story with a satisfying ending is a real driver for reading and re-reading. The new Peter Rabbit book does this brilliantly".
3. What features in the book will help families with reading?
We use a set of design principles in developing our programmes and it’s important that we use evidence to guide our choices. We use our shared knowledge to create something appealing to children and their families, as well as offering our partners great conversation starters and stories to share with the families they are working with. One of the important things about the Four Happy Bunnies book is that it has a very simple story with a beginning, a middle and an end. So, even if you’re not familiar with reading regularly, this simple story will help guide you. Progressing through a story with a satisfying ending is a real driver for reading and re-reading. The new Peter Rabbit book does this brilliantly.
Rhyming is also vital for those who sometimes struggle with confidence when reading together. A good baby book needs to scan well, flow easily, and have a strong rhythm. This makes reading aloud enjoyable and natural, while rhythm and repetition draw babies in and support early language development.
The book also has features such as felt flaps which are soft and tactile and is brightly coloured and robust, helping to make reading fun and interactive for young children. They invite playful interaction between you and your child, helping to build positive associations with books and making reading more likely to become part of daily life.
4. What role do health visitors play in the Bookstart Baby programme?
Health visitors are key partners for BookTrust, often gifting the Bookstart Baby pack to families in the crucial early weeks after their baby is born. Alongside the pack, health visitors give advice and tips on how to use books, stories and rhymes with babies. They may also use the books during home visits as aids for assessing development, or to support bonding between parent and child. Without the support and expertise of health visitors, the Bookstart Baby programme would not have the impact that it does on so many children and families.
5. What impact does Bookstart Baby have in the UK?
Bookstart Baby reaches half a million children each year in the UK – 90% of the babies born each year. The book is often the first book many babies own, and 78% of parents and carers say the pack prompted them to read or share books and stories more with their baby, setting them up for a life of reading.
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