BookTrust and Build-A-Bear: putting smiles on children’s faces

At BookTrust, we believe every child deserves to experience the joy, security and connection that comes from cuddling up and sharing a story. Having a beloved toy as part of their shared reading experience can help them feel excited and positive about books. This is why the ongoing support of the Build-A-Bear Foundation means so much to us as a charity.

Build-A-Bear Foundation have generously donated £93,000 to support 36,000 Early Years families along with 1,000 teddy bears, which BookTrust has delivered to nursery children across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Here's the difference it has already made to the children who got to take their new reading support bears home.

Emotional support for children

Belinda South, Family Hub Coordinator in Slough, describes how the bears are bringing comfort to children who are going through tough changes.

"We had a new family come in to register with us yesterday who had recently been rehoused in Slough for their safety following domestic abuse," she says. "We sent a Build-A Bear home to live with them in their new place.

"It's so lovely to have the bears in our children's centres, and to be able to use them to put a smile on children's faces."

Encouraging family library visits

In Sandwell, Harvills Hawthorn nursery teamed up with Sandwell Libraries to give families a Build-A-Bear teddy to take home, while encouraging them to visit their local library.

Nursery Manager Carla Maxwell, who read a story for the group, says: "The children played with their Build-A-Bear bears all afternoon. There were so many happy parents and children at the end of the day. Hopefully lots of them will come into the library now."

Teddy-themed reading fun

Datchet Family Hub hosted a bear-themed session, with stories, rhyme and activities. Staff from Build-A-Bear and BookTrust also came along and gave out bears and BookTrust packs to families.

"The session was buzzing," says Community Nursery Nurse Cathy Martin. "The children and their carers were thrilled with the bears and the BookTrust packs - all the children were engrossed in the books.

"We intend to continue the bear and book theme over the next few weeks. We'll be making a cave book corner, creating a bear diary with photos, and encouraging the parents to use the bears with books, stories and adventures at home."

A furry best friend to read with

Michelle, a practitioner at Little Harvards nursery in St Helens, says the Build-A- Bear teddies have made a lasting impression on the children who received them during a reading session.

"We all had such a lovely time – I can't say thank you enough for involving my nursery in such a wonderful project.

"We had lots of bears return to the nursery with the children – their parents said they had been inseparable."

Diana Gerald MBE, CEO of BookTrust, says: "The heartwarming stories we're hearing from our Early Years partners about children falling in love with their 'reading buddy bears' are just wonderful.

"Our partnership with the Build-A-Bear Foundation is helping us bring a new level of joy to families in nurseries across the UK, and is making such a difference in building children's positive associations with books and stories."

• BookTrust is the UK Literacy partner for Build-A-Bear Foundation – find out more here
• Find out more about supporting BookTrust through your workplace