The Little Book – Great Person

The first Bookstart programmes were launched nearly four decades ago in the United States and Great Britain. Their aim was to introduce children to the world of literature by providing all youngsters with books of their own. Today these kinds of projects take place all around the world; in Poland they began in 2017. The Book Institute’s Little Book – Great Person programme is, at present, the largest of its kind in Europe.

Children receive reading starter kits that match their age and stage of development. The programme is divided into three stages, and participation in each is free of charge, both for parents and the co-operating institutions.

Newborns. The first stage of the Little Book – Great Person campaign is aimed at parents of newborn children. At the midwife wards, caretakers receive a book chosen especially for children aged three and under and a pamphlet that explains why we should read to children right from birth. This part of the programme has now spread through 90% of Poland’s hospitals. In the distribution of these starter kits there are initiatives that include training for midwives – ambassadors for reading out loud to infants.

Preschoolers. The second stage of the programme, geared towards preschoolers, is carried out in conjunction with public libraries throughout Poland. Its principles are simple: every child that visits a participating library receives a starter kit (a book for readers aged four to six and a brochure for parents) as well as a Young Reader’s Card. 91% of Poland’s public libraries are participating in the project.

First-graders. The third stage of the campaign was prepared for children embarking on their primary school educations. The school takes charge of passing on the starter kits to the first-graders in the manner they prefer, whether it is during the school opening ceremony or the first visit to the school library. Reading starter kits are distributed in all of Poland’s primary schools with first-grade classes.

Since the programme’s beginning, over six million books have been passed on to children. The Book Institute oversees their preparation, print, and distribution. Yet book distribution is only the start of our activities to promote reading. More information can be found at www.wielki-czlowiek.pl.