Article Source: Scottish Book Trust
Last Updated: 18 May 2020 13:18
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, will host online celebrations this year for Bookbug Week, which runs from Monday 18 May – Sunday 24 May.
As the Bookbug programme has been running since 2010, the charity will mark the ten year milestone with #HappyBirthdayBookbug, encouraging families across Scotland to send Bookbug their birthday wishes.
Bookbug Week is an annual celebration of Scotland’s national book-gifting programme and Song and Rhyme Sessions. There will be many ways for families to join in the fun at home, such as a daily drawalong with Bookbug's creator Debi Gliori, to learn how to draw Bookbug and friends. There will also be a special film with Debi, which explains how she created Bookbug ten years ago.
The popular live Bookbug Session on Facebook will run on Friday 22 May at 10am, for everyone to join in and sing happy birthday to Bookbug. The first live Bookbug Session was a great success with over 20,000 views. For those that cannot join the live session, there will be an option to watch later, or the option of acelebratory Bookbug Session for families to try at home themselves.
Scottish Book Trust’s home activities hub will be packed with more themed ideas to try at home, from making a party hat to colouring in sheets of Bookbug. All through the week, there will also be competitions on the charity’s website and social media. Scottish Book Trust will also be asking for families' memories of their child's Bookbug Bags and Bookbug Sessions with their little ones.
As always, families can access Bookbug’s Song and Rhyme library, via Scottish Book Trust’s website, or on the free Bookbug app. Building on the increasing demand for modern nursery rhymes, Scottish Book Trust commissioned Sprog Rock to develop a brand new birthday song, which will launch on Wednesday 20 May. The new song was created through interactive nursery workshops earlier this year with Bucklyvie Nursery in Glasgow. The song centres around the theme of being ten years old, with nursery children contributing their imaginative thoughts about what that age means to them.
Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd said: “I am delighted that we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Bookbug programme in Scotland. To date, Bookbug has provided well over 6 million books to children and helped families across Scotland to take part in Bookbug activities and enjoy precious moments of reading, story-telling and singing together.
We know these are challenging times for families so it is heartening to see that the Bookbug online sessions are proving to be such a success. I am also pleased to see that this year’s celebrations will be packed with themed activity ideas for families to try at home.
I would like to thank Scottish Book Trust and everyone involved in delivering this wonderful programme and I hope that many families can join in the exciting virtual events and resources during the Bookbug week.”
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Scottish Book Trust is looking forward to celebrating Bookbug’s tenth birthday with families across Scotland through our website, social media channels and Bookbug app. We are extremely proud of the impact that the Bookbug programme has made in the last decade: from delivering free bags of books, to bringing communities together through Bookbug Sessions, to working with families at home who need our support to get started sharing stories and songs together.
“We'd like to thank all our colleagues from libraries, health, education, social care and the third sector for building Bookbug with us – it truly is a national partnership that shows how much we value books, and value children. We look forward to receiving everyone’s birthday messages for Bookbug and hope that families can join us to celebrate.”
Funded by the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, Bookbug is Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years Programme. The Bookbug programme encourages mums, dads and carers to sing and share stories with their children from birth. It gives every child in Scotland four free bags of books in their first 5 years, gifting over 885,000 books every year. Bookbug also runs regular free story, song and rhyme events in libraries, shopping centres and other community venues which attracted audiences of over 720,000 parents and children in 2018-19.
The unique legacy of globally-renowned Paisley designer and artist Dr Pam Hogg will inspire the next generation of creative talent, her proud home community says.
READ MORE
DF Concerts & Events is celebrating the success of their sustainability initiatives delivered across their major summer events in 2025.
READ MORE
Dalmeny Park is pulling out all the stops to make this festive season truly magical, unveiling its 2025 festive dining menus and afternoon teas available until 23rd December.
READ MORE
A brand-new programme of free fun activities and events returns with Renfrewshire’s praised Winter Connections.
READ MORE
The Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 celebrated the cream of the crop in the jazz scene on Sunday night, honouring outstanding artists and contributors at a memorable ceremony in Glasgow.
READ MORE
Interior designer, BBC Scotland's Home of the Year judge and entrepreneur Anna Campbell-Jones has released her first spirit.
READ MORE
A new civic plaza, garden and events space will be created in Erskine to provide a focal point for the local community.
READ MORE
The partnership is calling on the local community to donate new children's pyjamas, ensuring every child in Renfrewshire has something cosy to unwrap this Christmas.
READ MORE
Erskine's Christmas lights have been switched on for 2025 with locals turning out to enjoy the occasion!
READ MORE
Crowds turned out in Johnstone's Houstoun Square on Saturday to see the town's Christmas lights switched on for 2025.
READ MORE
Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, has launched a new festive competition to name the puffin starring in its emotional Christmas advert.
READ MORE
Deco 2025, an exhibition celebrating the decorative arts, will take place in The Art Department's new home from Tuesday 2nd December until Saturday 20th December.
READ MORE
Scotland's premier retail destination, Braehead Shopping Centre, today announce that this Christmas they will again welcome the Young Enterprise Christmas Trade Fayre.
READ MORE
A family rollercoaster, giant snow globe, rides, stalls, street food and live entertainment makes Loch Lomond Shores FREE Christmas festival the perfect Christmas day out for all the family!
READ MORE
Zizzi has introduced a new food & drink menu across all its restaurants, launched a brand-new Zizzi app, and is giving 132 people free pasta for one year.
READ MORE
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched some new offerings designed for memorable Christmas stays, spectacular Hogmanay celebrations, and cozy winter escapes.
READ MORE
Crowds turned out in Renfrew town centre on Saturday to see the town’s Christmas lights switched on for 2025!
READ MORE
Community groups, organisations and schools across Scotland are being invited to apply for grants of up to £100,000.
READ MORE
Renfrewshire will have a brand-new active play for all ages in the heart of the town after a contract was awarded to create the new facility in the Lagoon Leisure Centre.
READ MORE
A popular tourist spot in Renfrewshire is set to benefit as more than £700,000 is invested in a new cycle hub, information kiosk, public toilets and landscaping improvements.
READ MORE
From frosty gardens to cosy tearooms, National Trust for Scotland places in Glasgow and the West are offering a host of winter experiences and special events this festive season.
READ MORE
January needn't be a drag as Scotland's brand-new adult panto, The Wizard Wae The Big Bawz, hits the road, arriving just when the country needs a burst of joy!
READ MORE
Towns across Renfrewshire will officially mark the start of the festive season as the Christmas lights are due to be switched on over the coming weeks.
READ MORE
Crowds headed to Paisley town centre to mark the beginning of the festive season at the town's annual Christmas Lights Switch-On event.
READ MORE
Fresh new pyjamas are a Christmas essential, and Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron is looking for your help to make sure every child feels cosy and warm this Christmas.
READ MORE
Doddie Weir’s emotional match ball delivery at Murrayfield in 2017 has been voted the greatest moment in the stadium’s 100-year history, after thousands of fans took part in a nationwide poll.
READ MORE
Free parking is being extended during December in Paisley town centre council car parks.
READ MORE
Children in Paisley were transported to Another Realm as they were challenged to think creatively about the impact of the climate crisis.
READ MORE
The Steamie has been scrubbed up ahead of making a return to theatres across the country next year as part of an exciting new chapter in its long-standing story in the theatre landscape.
READ MORE
Bard in the Botanics will be launching their 25th Anniversary year with a Scotland-wide tour of their award-winning version of Medea, by Kathy McKean (after Euripides).
READ MORE