Libraries for under 5s

Babies and children love books

• A book is fun to use and easy to handle. You can take them in the car, on the bus, to the supermarket. They are great as part of the bedtime routine. 
• You can talk in any language you want, adapt the story to suit you, put on funny voices or tell it how it is on the page. 
• They are a great way to introduce new words, colours, shapes, and different situations. 
• Sharing books with your child from an early age improves their language skills, and helps develop their imagination, interests and confidence. 
• Once your child has a love of books they will have their favourites that they will want read to, again and again …… but they will also want new ones. So bring them to your local library – thousands of books to choose from …for free!!

Libraries love babies and children

• Libraries really are friendly places to go, and there is always a children’s area where nobody minds if your child makes noise or wants to look at lots of books. 
• Books are for using and we understand that accidents happen – we are happy to make allowances for damage as long as it does not happen too often. 
• You are never too young to have your own library card. We encourage parents to get cards for their babies. We do not fine overdue children’s books taken out on a child’s ticket. So if you are a few days late returning them – no worries. And remember you can renew books over the phone or on the internet. 
• Most libraries have story times or rhyme times. 
• All our libraries are in the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme. 
• Come and join Bradford Libraries with the Bookstart Bear club. The Bookstart Bear Club is a fun and engaging free membership club for all babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Collect paw print stamps, certificates and eventually your own Bookstart Bear.