There is something lovely about reading to a child at bedtime. Every word and picture on every page opens up a world of learning for them, and even if it's the seventh time that day that you've read Kipper Flies a Kite together it loses none of its appeal for the wide-eyed toddler turning the pages.

Bookstart, the national programme providing free books to pre-school children, claims that those introduced to books as babies are more likely to be confident learners at school.

Bookstart's aim is for children to develop a lifelong love of books and to encourage parents, grandparents and other carers to enjoy books with their children from as early an age as possible. Working through libraries and health visitors, Bookstart gives free books to children aged around eight months, 18 months and three years, along with guidance materials for parents and carers.

According to Bookstart, far more important than parents' academic qualifications is what they do with their children. Reading to their child, playing rhyming games, singing songs, talking about letters and sounds and taking their child to the library can all compensate for a low education level among parents.

In Bradford, the Bookstart Bear is a familiar figure in libraries. He has recently toured libraries, encouraging children to read and promoting Bradford Libraries' storytime sessions for pre-school children. Sessions blending storytelling with music and rhyme have been held at 20 district libraries highlighting September as National Share a Story month.

Bradford Libraries have been running events for children of all ages throughout the year and, as an incentive for youngsters to join, until March 2007 all new library members, aged five and below, get a sticker, a voucher for a free loan of a video or DVD and a parent-and-child swimming voucher. On their fourth visit children receive a Bookstart Bear toy.

National Bookstart Day is on October 6, when children's author Penny Dolan will be in Bradford entertaining parents and carers and their babies and toddlers at four libraries across the district. Other libraries will host special storytelling sessions and reading-related activities.

Bookstart co-ordinator Susan Brewster-Craig says children who read from an early age are likely to be better readers and learners when they start school.

"Children who enjoy books have better language and listening skills, greater emotional and social development, and are much more likely to be eager and confident learners," she says. "Many parents are surprised to learn that babies can benefit from books at such an early age, but research shows that babies and toddlers who love books begin reading sooner and have a better chance at school. The earlier children get access to these kind of resources, the better they are in later life."

As well as introducing books to babies, Bookstart is about getting parents to read to children.

"The first five years are the best time for learning to talk and most of a child's language comes from the adults around them," says Susan. "Enjoying books with babies and toddlers is a wonderful way to increase language skills and helps children to understand their world.

"Bookstart packs are only half the gift to children and their families. The other, more lasting gift is fostering a love of books through enjoying books together."

October marks the start of the second year of the extended Bookstart scheme. Along with the baby pack, which has been given out for more than six years in Bradford, two further packs - Bookstart Plus for toddlers aged 18-30 months and Bookstart Treasure Chest for three-year-olds - have been distributed. Toddlers get wall friezes and crayons as well as books.

Bradford's birth rate currently stands at 8,000 per year so across the district 8,000 packs have been distributed via health visitors, nurseries and libraries. The Bradford scheme is managed by libraries working closely with the Early Years and Childcare Service and the health authority. Susan says the mammoth roll-out of the scheme has proved a challenge but "hugely worthwhile".

Bookstart is a public and private partnership sponsored by more than 20 children's publishers and Red House Books. Central funding comes from Sure Start. The books are chosen by Booktrust, a charity encouraging people to discover and enjoy reading.

Bookstrust director Chris Meade says: "When my daughter was a baby she'd sit on my lap, I'd help her turn the cardboard pages of a book while she kept trying to eat it. We made the noises together of the miaowing cat and growling bear. We looked under the flaps for that elusive dog.

"She giggled when I tickled her, loosening her grip on the page, and grumbled when I tried to skip a page because it was time to sleep.

"She relished books. She made connections between the cartoon dog going woof woof' and the real-life pet asleep at her feet, between the patterns of black type and the words we repeated over and over.

"Sixteen years later I'm not claiming she's a prodigy, but some of that irreverent, confident relish of words remains in her attitude to GCSE set texts and the shelf of battered paperbacks above her bed.

"Bookstart is about connections, between parents and their children, libraries and health visitors, publishers and readers, government departments and a wealth of agencies and organisations, all of whom share the simple but radical belief that babies need books."

One Bradford mother who has taken part in the scheme, Alison King - mum to baby Katie - says: "Bookstart storytimes in the library have helped me learn how to share books with my baby. She loves them! We now go to the library more often to borrow books and always feel welcome there."

l Children's writer and storyteller Penny Dolan will lead a storytelling session at Bradford Central Library on National Bookstart Day, October 6, from 10-10.45am. For information about other events, or about Bookstart, ring (01274) 433684 or visit www.bradford.gov.uk.

Did you know..?

n Bookstart began in 1992 in Birmingham with a pilot involving 300 babies.

n Booktrust researched the effects of early book-sharing on child development, comparing Bookstart and non-Bookstart parents, and found that 83 per cent of Bookstart parents read the whole text compared with 34 per cent of non-Bookstart parents; more than 60 per cent of Bookstart families talked about the story, compared with only 24 per cent of the others; nearly 70 per cent of Bookstart children regarded books as one of their favourite activities, compared with 21 per cent of children who hadn't received Bookstart packs; and 75 per cent of Bookstart parents usually bought books as presents for their children compared with just ten per cent of non-Bookstart parents.

n The evidence persuaded Sainsbury's to sponsor Bookstart as its Millennium project in 1999-2000, leading to national recognition.

n In 2004 the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown announced funding to extend Bookstart, providing free books to every child from birth to the age of three.