The words: "7 picture books to help build empathy, chosen by Tom Percival" and the front covers of Grandad's Island, What Happened to You, To The Other Side, The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered, Clean Up, This Way Up, and The Pirate Mums

"Reading about how other people think and feel is one of the best ways to practise empathy."

Our #WriterInResidence Tom Percival has picked seven great picture books that could help children discover and connect to other lives and experiences.

Explore his list here 👇

https://bit.ly/4swNLLs

A graphic with photos of a wall mural, cosy reading nook with tipi and a children reading books. White text on a blue background says BookTrust Pyjamarama win a book nook!

✨ Win a book nook for your class!

Register your school or early years setting for #Pyjamarama and pay in your fundraising by 6th July, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a reading corner.

Register now to be entered into the prize draw: https://bit.ly/4cqgOub

#NationalYearOfReading2026

A photo of a woman showing a Bookstart pack to a man plus the words: "Calling family hubs & children's centres. BookTrust Partner Survey 2026 - have your say!"

Do you work in a family hub or children’s centre and deliver our #Bookstart programmes?

We want to know how they work for you – and what could be better.

Take our BookTrust Partner Survey today and have your say 👇

https://bit.ly/4t9WG71

Boost reading for pleasure with Bookbuzz Primary - Headteacher Update How Bookbuzz Primary helps KS2 pupils build reading joy, confidence and stronger reading habits in school.

Excitement, choice & real reading joy! #Schools piloting #Bookbuzz Primary from @booktrust.org.uk have seen KS2 pupils grow in confidence, identity & motivation as readers. Registration for the 2026 programme is now open. Find out how it works: buff.ly/LevBAT8 #teaching #literacy #sponsored

A graphic with a photo of a dad and toddler sharing a picture book together. Dark blue text on a yellow background says 'how books and stories can help your child get ready to start school'.

It's Primary School offer day! 📆

Starting school is an exciting time, with lots of new experiences ahead. But it can come with mixed emotions too.

Find out how sharing stories can help to prepare your child for starting school, plus top tips and book recommendations.

https://bit.ly/4th2dbZ

A photo of a librarian singing and smiling while sitting cross legged with her hands in the air and a pile of books next to her. Plus the Bookstart and Go All In logos, the hashtag #ShareYourStoryNYR and the words: "Share Your Story: Celebrate the National Year of Reading by showing how you share Bookstart with families"

Happy #NationalLibrarianDay!

We're sending a BIG thank you to all librarians supporting families to read together - you're doing amazing work ✨

Don't forget to tag your photos & vids with #ShareYourStoryNYR so we can spotlight how you're using #Bookstart to make a difference in your communities!

What an amazing list! Huge congratulations to everyone shortlisted 🎉

It's #NationalEarlyYearsTeacherDay and we want to say a HUGE thank you to all of the teachers nurturing a love of stories each and every day 💙

Here's @jandubiel.bsky.social, Specialist in #EarlyYears Education, explaining why storytelling is such a vital part of the early years curriculum.

A photo of a woman and child sharing a book plus a photo of Dr Lisa Cherry, and the words: "Webinar: Cultivating belonging through shared reading - supporting children in kinship care, foster care and adoption - with Dr Lisa Cherry. 11am, Tuesday 21 April"

📅 One week to go!

Join us on 21 April for a webinar with Dr Lisa Cherry to explore how shared reading can support children in contact with the social care system.

Perfect for virtual school teams, designated teachers in schools, and practitioners supporting families 👇

https://bit.ly/47Y0z6t

Our new #Bookbuzz Primary programme has been designed to help children in Key Stage 2 develop positive, lasting attitudes towards reading.

How?

By making it all about choice, enjoyment, and ownership!

Find out about #Bookbuzz Primary and how it could support your pupils: https://bit.ly/3Op3eiT

A graphic with a photo of author Iqbal Hussain. White text on a dark blue background says BookTrust Represents virtual author workshop for Years 5-7. 11am Wednesday 6 May.

We're so excited for our next #BookTrustRepresents virtual author workshop, this time with @ihussainwriter.bsky.social.

Iqbal is the author of The Night I Borrowed Time - an exciting time travel adventure that brilliantly captures contemporary family life.

Sign up now: https://bit.ly/3QlTqqp

Boost reading for pleasure with Bookbuzz Primary - Headteacher Update How Bookbuzz Primary helps KS2 pupils build reading joy, confidence and stronger reading habits in school.

Excitement, choice & real reading joy! #Schools piloting #Bookbuzz Primary from @booktrust.org.uk have seen KS2 pupils grow in confidence, identity & motivation as readers. Registration for the 2026 programme is now open. Find out how it works: buff.ly/LevBAT8 #teaching #literacy

Thank you to @headteacherupdate.bsky.social for this article about #Bookbuzz Primary!

Find out about our brand new programme for KS2 and how it could make a difference in your school 👇

BookTrust London Marathon 2026 runners Helen Tamblyn-Saville and Francesco Volpe, holding up a Bookstart pack, a blue puppet and a Peter Rabbit Bookstart book.

Only 2 weeks to go! 👟

The amazing Helen (@wonderlandbookshop.bsky.social) and Francesco will soon be lacing up their trainers and taking on the iconic #LondonMarathon – all to help more children discover the magic of reading.

Find out why they're taking on the challenge 👇

https://bit.ly/48ohlvw

A photo of a woman wearing a lanyard and smiling while sharing a Bookstart pack with a woman and baby sitting on a sofa. Plus the Bookstart logo and the words: "Calling all health visitors! Have your say in the BookTrust Partner Survey"

Calling all health visitors!

You make such a difference to families by gifting #Bookstart Baby – and we want to know your thoughts so we can shape the future of the programme together.

Take our BookTrust Partner Survey and have your say:

https://bit.ly/4ebPpi4

@ihealthvisiting.bsky.social

An illustration of an alien with books balanced on its head between two eyes on stalks. Plus a banner reading "Book missions to try in 2026" and the words: "April: Read a book because you love its pictures"

April's book mission is to read a book because you love its pictures! What will you choose?

⭐ Download the missions calendar here - and find our recommendations of brilliant illustrated titles to try: https://bit.ly/4qn98yF

A yellow and pink graphic that says books for children with new siblings, with six colourful book covers.

It's #NationalSiblingsDay!

Author Molly Mead has put together a list of some of her favourite books to help children explore the joys and challenges of becoming the oldest child.

Read the full list📚 https://bit.ly/3OeOqDd

A photo of school librarian Rachel with the school's white labradoodle sitting in the school library. Plus the Bookbuzz logo and a quote from Rachel: "I get students coming up to me in the corridor to say thank you for their Bookbuzz Secondary books"

“#Bookbuzz Secondary means we can get a free book into our students’ hands, and most importantly, they’ve chosen it for themselves."

We spoke to librarian Rachel - and labradoodle Perdi - to find out how Bookbuzz Secondary creates excitement around books in her school 👇

https://bit.ly/47MMLvm

A graphic featuring a photo of a teacher and pupil sharing a book and smiling. White text on a blue background says Webinar: Reading for Pleasure at Key Stage 2, creating impactful social reading experiences. 4-5pm Tuesday 21 April.

📅 We have a really exciting webinar coming up for primary schools!

We'll be exploring how social reading experiences in Key Stage 2 can reignite children’s motivation and joy for books.

Hear from experts and teachers, get practical insights and more - book your spot here 👇

https://bit.ly/3PPe5Dd

A photo of Dr Lisa Cherry, the BookTrust logo and the words: "Webinar - cultivating belonging through shared reading. Supporting children in kinship care, foster care and adoption. With Dr Lisa Cherry. 11am, Tuesday 21 April."

📢 Calling virtual schools, teachers, and practitioners supporting children and families in contact with the social care system!

We have a fantastic webinar lined up for you with Dr Lisa Cherry, exploring how shared reading can help children to feel safe, seen and connected 👇

https://bit.ly/4c9sT6P

A colourful illustration of a smiling family. The woman is holding up a book to the little girl. Dark blue text on a light background says Reading supports her emotionally, her physical and mental wellbeing, and her understanding of why she is with us.

We spoke with Kinship carers Debbie and Francis to hear how they use books to support their niece, Dora, to understand her life journey.

They're one of the families that helped to shape our recent #StoriesThatConnectUs animation.

Listen to their story 💙 https://bit.ly/4dtmCW6

What a fabulous competition! Thank you ❤️

Hooray!

A photo of a young child with books plus a quote from GP Mike Merriman: "“As health professionals, if it isn’t our business to help people read – which is such an important thing for closing the gap on health inequality – then we’re in the wrong business”. Plus the URL booktrust.org.uk/readingrights and logos for Waterstones Children's Laureate, Arts Council England and BookTrust

It's #WorldHealthDay!

And we're proud to be working with health professionals to help get families reading as part of our #ReadingRights campaign.

Find out how we're working with doctors, public health, health visitors and other services here 👇

https://bit.ly/3PR3mYU

A close up photo of a mum reading a story to a baby on her lap. In quotation marks, dark blue text says Her little feet would start going and her hands would wave – she’d get so excited... Seeing her reaction made it all worthwhile. Quote from a parent on low income talking about Bookstart Baby.

It's never too early to share stories with babies.

That's why our #Bookstart Baby programme provides a free book pack to families with babies - and 78% of parent and carers say it prompted them to read or share books and stories more.

Find out more in our Impact Report: https://bit.ly/4tsOHla

Hello, and apologies for the late response! We'd say A Kind of Spark and Frankie's World are both suitable for KS3.

📑Waterstones Children’s Laureate to mark the end of his tenure with ‘Laureate Lecture’

The Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-2026, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, will deliver the first ever ‘Waterstones Children’s Laureate Lecture’ entitled ‘THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT’ on 14 May
@booktrust.org.uk

❤️❤️❤️

Working with our friends Yorkshire Contemporary, we stopped by Hamara Healthy Living Centre to share another beautiful batch of books and activity packs with local families & children.

Thanks to @booktrust.org.uk & @penguinbooksuk.bsky.social #LitinColour

📸: David Lindsay - Photographer

A collage of colourful book covers featuring chicks, eggs and bunnies. Dark blue text on a pale orange background says books about Easter.

From fluffy chicks and bunnies to delicious chocolate treats, these #Easter books are too cute to be missed! 🐣

See the full list: https://bit.ly/4saT8Qu