Schools minister Jim Knight and culture minister Margaret Hodge visitedthe Idea Store in Whitechapel to launch Book Ahead, aimed at childrenfrom birth to seven years old, and Boys into Books, designed for boysaged five to 11.
In the nationwide schemes, local authorities will be supplied with aselection of free books to loan out to primary schools and nurseries vialocal libraries (News, 5 December 2007).
Under the 5m Book Ahead scheme, councils are to choose books froma list published by the School Library Association. Up to half a millionfree volumes will be loaned to settings in book boxes made up by thelibraries, featuring favourite authors such as John Burningham, NickButterworth, Lauren Child and Roald Dahl.
Local authorities are being given funding from the DCSF to buy booksfrom the list to use with early years settings.
Clair Hawkins, lead member for children's services on Tower Hamletscouncil, said, 'These schemes are going to help our children access somefantastic new books, which will be vital in developing their readingskills.'
For the full list of book titles involved in the scheme visitwww.bookahead.org.uk.
