SHAUN LOWTHORPE Look East's Suzie Fowler Watt was on hand yesterday to help lead youngsters towards discovering the pleasures of reading.

SHAUN LOWTHORPE

Look East's Suzie Fowler Watt was on hand yesterday to help lead youngsters towards discovering the pleasures of reading.

The BBC presenter, who was joined by her 18-month old daughter Lola, read children's favourite Little Rabbit Foo Foo to around 60-youngsters a`t the launch of the Bookstart event at the Forum.

The event is among a number of activities taking place in libraries across Norfolk as part of the 75th national children's book week.

“Reading is really important for children, not only is it fun but it also stimulates their imagination,” she said. “I really enjoy reading books to Lola and I'm now rediscovering some old favourites.”

Jan Holden, from the Millennium Library, said the event was aimed at encouraging families to get the most out of their libraries and storytelling sessions for toddlers and parents were among the most popular events held.

“It means they start to know about rhythm and language earlier and know how books work because they have already been exposed to it,” she said. “It's about creating that reading habit, but also encouraging parents to share books with their babies

In Gorleston and Yarmouth libraries, a baby Bookstart crawl was launched with the aim of encouraging parents to bring their under fours to their local library and become library members.

Children collect stickers on each visit and can then exchange five stickers for a certificate and eventually collect a small Bookstart teddy bear.

National Children's Book Week also sees the launch of the 2006 Norfolk Children's Book Award - a poll in which thousands of children will be encouraged to vote for their favourite titles. Voting forms will be in all libraries with the results announced next February.

Programme of events

Saturday 7 October

All day Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library 01603 774750 Brother Benedictine's Family Writing Workshop - learn how to make a medieval manuscript

9.30am - 11am Swaffham 01760 721513 This is My Life - make a family scrapbook (7-11yrs)

11.30am St. William's Way 01603 434123 Egyptian Dancing

Tuesday 10 October

2pm Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library 01603 774750 Sharing Books With Your Child - a talk for parents and carers

4pm - 5pm Great Yarmouth 01493 844551 Stories and activities for families with over 5s

Thursday 12 October

1.45pm - 2.30pm Gorleston 01493 662156 Songs and stories with puppets for the under 5s

3pm - 7pm North Walsham 01692 402482 The Games We Used To Play - hands-on exhibition of old toys

Saturday 14 October

10.30am - 12 noon Dersingham 01485 540181 Musical story time for 5-9 yrs

11.30am Costessey 01603 742669 Egyptian Dancing

2pm - 3.30pm Attleborough 01953 452319 Spy school for families with over 7s

2pm - 4pm Hunstanton 01485 532280 We Love Languages - stories and activities for 7-11 yrs

2.30pm - 4pm Wymondham 01953 603319 Make a Book - for families with under 8s

Sunday 15 October

2.30pm Earlham 01603 454338 Egyptian Dancing