Highland Bookbug

High Life Highland delivers community learning and leisure services including library and information services on behalf of The Highland Council.

Highland Libraries are delighted to work in partnership with Scottish Book Trust Early Years Programme, NHS Highland and Highland Early Years providers to deliver the Bookbug Programme.

The Bookbug programme includes FREE book gifting and fun activities for children aged 0-3, their parents and carers.


Bookbug baby – All babies receive a Bookbug Baby pack from their Health Visitors between 6 and 16 weeks. The pack includes two board books and a colourful magazine packed full of information for parents and carers about sharing books with baby.  All this is presented in an attractive canvas bag that can be later be used to carry home books borrowed from the library!

Bookbug Toddler – For toddlers aged 15 – 30 months. This attractive canvas bag includes specially selected picture books and information about book sharing for parents and carers. It also includes crayons and a drawing pad for children to mark make in. The pack is available through Highland Libraries or via your health visitor.  The library service will send a reminder postcard to parents when their child is 18 months old to alert them to this wonderful free gift.  Please ask at your local library for details.

Bookbug Pirate Pack – Children aged 3 years will receive a pirate themed canvas goody bag packed full of fun items including carefully selected picture books, colouring and craft materials and lots of information for parents and carers.  This pack is primarily delivered via your child’s nursery or early years setting but is also available on request from your local library.

All Bookbug packs distributed via Highland Libraries contain a Gaelic picture book in addition to the English books featured in all packs.


Bookbug's Library Challenge – A library incentive scheme encouraging a good library habit.  Registered wee ones are give a collectors card which is marked each time they visit.  When the card is full they receive a beautiful certificate designed by a major children’s illustrator, there are are five to collect. Please ask at your local library for details.


Bookbug Sessions – Free, fun lively sessions combining books, rhymes, singing and play designed to encourage parents to share stories and songs with their babies from birth onwards.  Regular sessions are held in most Highland Libraries; please contact your local library for details.

Bookbug Alert! - parents and carers can visit Scottish Book Trust's Bookbug pages and can sign up for e-mail alerts to receive email reminders when it’s time for your next free pack of books and to receive book suggestion e-mails on your child’s birthday!


For further information about the Bookbug Programme, please visit the Bookbug homepage.  Alternatively contact your local library.