Fun activities lined up to get Northumberland children reading on Pyjamarama Day on Friday, May 1

All across the country families will be celebrating BookTrust’s festival of story-filled fun aimed at getting more children reading.

Pyjamarama is a nationwide celebration that aims to get more parents and carers experiencing the magic of bedtime stories with their children.

The day will be jam-packed with activities, events and your favourite authors and illustrators - all to be enjoyed at home and in the comfort of your pyjamas!

Northumberland Libraries along with partners in Early Years, Health and Children’s Centres have worked together to produce their own special story and rhymetime video for children and families.

The video will be available to view from Friday, May 1, on Northumberland Libraries, Early Years, Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust and Children’s Centres social media.

In addition to this 1,000 copies of the picture book “My Pet Star,” by Corrinne Averiss and Rosalind Beardshaw will be delivered to children who would normally access services at many of the county’s Children’s Centres, courtesy of the Bookstart. Further copies of the book will be available later in the year from libraries.

To add to the fun, there are PJ Masks to make and children’s favourites, Horrid Henry and Tracy Beaker, are helping out by providing extra ideas and activities for a brilliant day.

BookTrust together with Northumberland Libraries and other community partners, want to make sure every child has an equal opportunity to have a bedtime story.

Coun Cath Homer, cabinet member for libraries at Northumberland County Council, said: “Sharing books and rhymes with your children has never been more important; and it is wonderful to see the effort Northumberland Libraries and their partners in Early Years, Health and Children’s Centres have made to deliver Pyjamarama Day locally.

“As well as a fun story and rhymetime video, mini books provided by Bookstart are being delivered to families in activity packs from Children’s Centres and community nursery nurses.”

Families can join in the fun on the BookTrust website: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/pyjamarama

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