Free Bedtime Story Books For Kids

Power of Books by Mladen Penev

atest press release from Wicklow County Council, issued on Monday, October 2nd 2023…

Wicklow County Council Library is delighted to announce a new initiative aimed at fostering a love for reading and early literacy skills in the youngest members of our community.

From October 3rd every child in the county aged from birth to 4 is invited to visit their local library with their parent, guardian or minder and receive a free bedtime story book.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, stressed the significance of reading with your child, saying: “Reading together not only nurtures a child’s imagination but also strengthens family bonds, creating a foundation for a lifetime of learning. We invite parents and caregivers to join us in this exciting journey toward fostering a love for books and reading in our youngest generation.”

The heart of this project lies in the belief that reading with children from birth is a simple yet powerful way to enhance their development.

By providing parents with the opportunity to engage in bedtime reading, Wicklow County Council Library hopes to highlight the importance of dedicating a few moments each day to shared stories. These moments not only create cherished memories but also significantly contribute to a child’s confidence, closeness with their parents, vocabulary, and readiness for school.

“We are thrilled to launch this initiative and provide families in our community with the resources they need to promote early literacy,” said Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council.

Wicklow’s Library staff look forward to meeting lots of very young babies and toddlers in the coming weeks and have planned extra activities in their branches. These include tummy times, rhyme times and story times.

Reading rhymes and stories together will give them a flying start! More on Greystones Library here.