Books Together
Supporting families to discover the joy in sharing books and increasing children’s literacy and language skills
What is Books Together?
The Books Together programme works to support parents of young children to read together regularly through a series of informative and interactive sessions. The programme will provide useful tips, resources and ideas to encourage families to discover the joy and fun of reading together.
The project is co-delivered by Coram Family and Childcare and Coram Beanstalk, drawing on our shared expertise as members of the Coram family, and supported by the Mercers’ Company as trustee of the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington. Books Together combines the unique peer-led model of our Parent Champions programme with Coram Beanstalk’s extensive experience of providing effective reading support.
Books Together aims to reach families with young children aged two to five who are most likely to start school with lower levels of emergent literacy than their peers. The sessions will focus on developing reading skills for both parents and children so that becomes a habitual activity in the home environment, increasing children’s literacy skills.
The programme works with parents to co-design, co-market and co-deliver reading courses which engage local parents and their children. This parent-led approach aims to reach the families who face the most barriers, designed by the people who understand these barriers and how to overcome them.
Books Together is delivered in local communities across three interactive sessions. These sessions include fun activities for children and share useful tips and ideas for parents to get children interested in books and reading with their parents at home.
Books Together aims to:
- Increase children’s literacy and language skills
- Improve school readiness
- Increase parents use of services, including library services
More information
If you are a parent interested in participating in our Books Together sessions, please contact us and we can let you know if your local authority is participating in the programme.
If you are a London local authority interested in running Books Together sessions for families in your area, please get in touch.
Or take a look at our blogs below.
Get in touch Read the blog: The exciting story of Books Together Read the blog: Introducing Books TogetherCoram Beanstalk
Coram Beanstalk is a national children’s reading charity with over 50 years’ experience in creating readers through in-person reading support.
Find out more Guidance for parents