MORE than 2,000 babies in Bradford are now benefitting from a free book giving project.

The Better Start Imagine scheme, which is run by Better Start Bradford, provides a free book per month to every child, born after January 1, 2016, in the Better Start Bradford area - (Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton - until their fourth birthday, to help support literacy skills and bonding.

So far 2,062 babies have been signed up and have received books including ‘Grumpy Frog’, ‘How to Bath your Dinosaur’, ‘Loo Queue’ and ‘Chapatti Moon’ from a wealth of popular children’s authors including Tony Ross, Raymond Briggs, Beatrix Potter, Quentin Blake and Shirley Hughes.

The Better Start Imagine project is building on the successful delivery of a similar scheme in the Canterbury area of the city.

It is being delivered by BHT Early Education and Training as part of the international Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Leanne Souster, Better Start Imagine coordinator, BHT Early Education and Training, said: “I am thrilled so many babies and children are signed up to this great project and are receiving these free wonderful books through the post each month.

"Families love receiving them and it’s become part of their daily routine to look, read and share the books as well as to wait for them being delivered.

“I can’t express enough that it’s never too early to start sharing books with your baby. Not only does it help with early language development, but it’s a nice time to bond.”

Jodie Pedley, 25, mum to Ethan, one, said: “I think reading to your babies is one of the most important things you can do with them.

"Not only does looking at books help teach them, reading is a special time between the two of you as it promotes the closeness between you and your child, and it fuels their imagination.”

Michaela Howell, programme director at Better Start Bradford, said the scheme is growing from "strength to strength".

She said: "It is great to see that local families are really embracing the importance of reading books to their children. Alongside boosting their language and communication skills, it is a great opportunity for mums and dads to spend one-to-one time bonding with their child.”

Better Start Bradford is part of the National Lottery-funded A Better start programme, set up by the Big Lottery Fund.

The project is also gearing up to mark the first ever Baby Week Bradford, which will take place from November 19 to 24.

There will be more than 40 events across the district to celebrate babies, their families and the people working with them through pregnancy and the earliest years of a child's life.For further information and a full programme of events visit www.babyweekbradford.org