Bookstart Around the World 1
Bookstart Around the World Preface Six years have
passed since the Swedish Arts Council launched Bokstart in Sweden. Five pilot projects were conducted, inspired by the initiatives called Bogstart in Denmark and Bookstart in England. A great deal has happened since then. In the autumn of 2020, we released the Bokstart i Sverige [Bokstart in Sweden] report, which gives a good picture of the Bokstart projects between 2017 and 2020. With this overview of current knowledge – Bookstart Around the World – we have asked ourselves the question: What knowledge is currently available in Sweden and around the world on bookgifting programmes directed towards families with young children? The aim is to collect relevant research and successful methods for improving work on Bookstart. It is our hope that this overview will be of interest to many, including those outside of Bookstart circles. Knowledge about language development in children and the significant role that parents play in developing their children’s language is important for the whole of society. This is something noted also by Läsdelegationen [The Reading Delegation] in its official report called Barns och ungas läsning – ett ansvar för hela samhället [Reading for children and young ones – a responsibility for the whole of society] (SOU 2018:57). The authors of this overview establish that the bookgifting programmes described are effective and do make a difference. They also describe the key factors for a successful Bookstart project. Bokstart in Sweden was conducted as a government assignment between 2017 and 2020. The government has now decided that the Swedish Arts Council should continue to propagate and develop Bokstart for some time to come. The aspiration is that Bokstart should reach out across the whole country. We are considerably proud and happy to have been given this assignment. This overview and our previous report stand us in good stead for the continuing work. Lotta Brilioth Biörnstad Head of Unit, the Swedish Arts Council 2/52