1.5 million free books...

‘But Excuse Me, This is Your Book’: title celebrating

reading and libraries is this year’s free Booktime book

for children starting school

1.5 million free books to be gifted through Booktime: two books for every 4-5 year old in England and Wales

www.booktime.org.uk

Booktrust and Pearson today announce the new titles for Booktime, which will give two free books to every child starting school in England and Wales in the 2013-14 school year. This year’s books for children in England are

But Excuse Me That is My Book, published by Puffin, an imprint of Penguin Children’s and Tom’s Mad Mop, from the Bug Club series by Pearson UK, part of Pearson's education business. 4-5 year olds in Wales will receive

But Excuse Me That is My Book

as well as a Welsh language title to be selected this spring.

730,000 children aged 4-5 in England and Wales will each receive a free Booktime book pack in their first year of primary school. With two free books in every pack, along with additional copies for teachers and librarians, 1.5 million books in total will be given through Booktime, which aims to inspire a lifelong love of reading by encouraging families to have fun reading together.

But Excuse Me That is My Book

stars the hugely popular Charlie and Lola characters created by Lauren Child. Children will join Charlie, Lola and their friends on a trip to the library to look at all the different types of books that Lola might like to read. It is a warm and funny story about family, friends and the importance of trying new things, in a refreshed edition published especially for Booktime.

But Excuse Me That is My Book is intended to inspire children through Booktime to seek out lots of new books and stories to enjoy.  In England, Booktime packs will also contain a book for children to support them on their reading journey, from Pearson UK.

Tom’s Mad Mop, written by Celia Warren and illustrated by Bill Ledger, is a bright and familiar story about playing with friends, which parent and teachers can

use to help children in their own reading

.

Peter Hughes, head of corporate responsibility at Pearson, said:
“Reading is fundamental to learning and in today's modern world, to living. Pearson,

Penguin and Booktrust hope that this gift will help unlock a wonderful world of stories.”

Booktime will be supported by a range of resources and games at

www.booktime.org.uk

** For further information on the Booktime programme please contact Rosi Crawley on