1. Better Beginnings for families with Kindergarten & Pre-Primary children
Your library logo here

2. Growing up with Better Beginnings
Parents are their child’s first teacher
Reading is a fun activity that you can enjoy with your child at home and at your local library
Just 5 minutes a day can make a big difference
For metro libraries:
Since XXXX, the State Library of WA, [LOCAL GOVT/LIBRARY] and the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund have partnered to deliver the program in [LOCAL GOVT/TOWN].
For country libraries:
Since XXXX, the State Library of WA, [SHIRE/LIBRARY], Department of Regional Development & Lands, Royalties for Regions and the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund have partnered to deliver Better Beginnings in [SHIRE/TOWN].
If your library has been running the program for four years or more some of the children may have received their yellow pack when they were babies with a board book. If so, you can talk about the Better Beginnings Birth to Three Year Old program (yellow reading packs) as part of your conversation with parents to connect the two reading packs together.
Key messages
For parents:
The importance of sharing books and language with your child doesn’t stop when they start school.
You play an important role as your child’s first teacher and as a reading role model.
Reading aloud to your child for just 5 minutes every day can make a big difference to help your child to develop important literacy skills, and will help to give them a love of books and reading.
For children:
This is a special gift from your library to keep and take home to look at and read together with mum and dad/family.
Visit your local library with your family to borrow more great books for free.
For teachers:
The program resources support the work of teachers in developing their students literacy and numeracy skills in the home. The resources encourage parents to be actively involved with their child’s home literacy practices and education.

3. Reading packs for every 4 & 5 year old
*** Note: Show the children and parents what’s inside their reading pack ***
Each reading pack contains:
a reading folder and library bag – how many books can families borrow and fit inside their bag?
a quality Australian picture book perfect for reading aloud, looking at and talking about the pictures
a tip sheet for parents about reading to their child
An activity to go along with the book, perfect for parents to enjoy with their child
My Discovery Book for parents and their child to complete together
A booklist full of recommended authors and titles for families to look for when they visit the library, and information about fun online resources
Libraries are encouraged to include additional information in the packs, such as membership forms, flyers promoting Story times or events, information about opening hours or what you can borrow etc.
Age appropriate books have been selected by Better Beginnings for the packs. Each pack will contain one of these titles:
For Kindergarten:
Possum and Wattle by Bronwyn Bancroft
A Crash of Rhinos by Patricia Mullins
Bush Bash by Ambelin Kwaymullina
For Pre-Primary:
Isabella’s Garden by Glenda Millard & Rebecca Cool
There Was an Old Sailor by Claire Saxby & Cassandra Allen
Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House by Libby Gleeson & Freya Blackwood

4. Take-home fun for families!
Visit the library to borrow:
Discovery Backpacks filled with puppets, musical instruments and activities
Read Aloud Book Sets filled with picture books perfect for reading out loud together
It’s FREE!
Discovery Backpacks:
These have been designed to be loaned to families. If you prefer, you can keep them for use within the library only
Linked to the early years Curriculum Framework in the areas of English, Maths and Science.
They have been designed to encourage families to enjoy sharing stories together
Self-paced activity cards are included and link families to online stories and games
Read Aloud Book Sets
A core set of 10 picture books perfect for the 4-5 years age group. It includes titles that may already be familiar to some children, and some new favourites.
Each library gets a set to add to their own stock
Each library also gets an additional set for each school they work with (eg if you have 2 schools in your area you’ll get an additional 2 sets)
The Read Aloud Book Set is designed to expose children to the same core set of titles at the library, in the classroom and at home. Familiarity with a book and being able to predict what will come next in the story is an essential pre-literacy skill and the beginning of learning to read!

5. Your library card is your ticket to an online world of stories and learning!
Have fun exploring
TumbleBooks, Busythings and
Literacy Planet together!
*** Note: You can replace the Better Beginnings website address with your library’s website address if preferred ***
The State Library and WA Public Libraries provide access to free online resources that promote literacy development.
Families with a public library card can access these resources free from home.
TumbleBooks:
Online library of animated e-books for children
Suitable for all ages
Busythings:
Activities and games linked to four key early learning areas: Literacy, Numeracy, Creative Development and General Knowledge
Very visual graphics and silly sound effects make this a favourite with young children
Designed for ages 3+
Literacy Planet (formerly Intrepica):
Literacy activities for that focus on core literacy development areas including reading, comprehension, grammar, spelling etc.
Complete the learning activities to earn coins to spend on fun rewards
Designed for ages 5+ (includes activities suitable for secondary students)
Britannica Junior:
Useful homework site for families with children in early primary school
Useful reference tool for library staff looking for age-appropriate information resources
Grows with the child – Student edition available for older students
Discovering Books and Information Online:
Better Beginnings has developed 2 training packages designed to equip library staff with the skills to provide information/training sessions to parents. These training packages are available for download from the Better Beginnings website here:

6. *** Note: You can replace the Better Beginnings website address with your library’s website address if preferred ***