New mobile library for Woodgrange Estate, Southend, UK

Residents living in and around the Woodgrange Estate, in Southend, can now use the services of a mobile library. Aimed at encouraging parents to share books with the under 5s, the library will call every three weeks on Wednesdays from 10.45-11.15am at the Centre Place Family Centre, Prospect Close. Estuary Housing Association staff who work in the centre's nursery are involved in a language development scheme for children called Every Child a Talker (ECaT). By sharing books and rhymes, parents can help their children develop good language and listening skills, and picture books can be introduced at very early age to encourage a life-long love of literature. Children and Bookstart manager, Anne Bonham said: "A 'Bookstart' is the best start any child can have and any parent can give it. "A few minutes a day sharing a book helps children develop their language, concentration and skills that will make learning easy. "Children who have been introduced to books do better when they get to school - it works because it's fun."