Newsletters

Issue 7 – February 2013
Books for Babies launched in Northland Following a successful launch in Waikato and Bay of Plenty we commenced operation of Books for Babies in Northland in late 2012 and the programme is expanding rapidly. We had tremendous support from Tindall Foundation, Todd Foundation, Sky City Auckland and Mania Primary Health Organisation to make the Northland programme possible.





Issue 5 – March 2012
The long awaited national expansion is going ahead! Storytime Foundation, in collaboration with Plunket, tamariki ora providers and libraries and with the support of our generous funders, is launching its first out of Auckland programme in April. Initially launching in Waikato this will be followed closely by Bay of Plenty and it is anticipated that Northland will follow. We look forward to bringing the Books for Babies Programme to newborns in these new areas.




Storytime Foundation Spring 2011 Newsletter
Storytime Foundation celebrated 50,000 book deliveries to over 10,000 Auckland families. The Foundation, formally known as “Books for Babes Trust” celebrated with a morning tea at Manurewa Library. Invited guests were addressed by Storytime Foundation Chairman Ian Leader, Hon. George Hawkins MP, Greg Morgan from Auckland Libraries and Sheryl Orton from Plunket. The Books for Babies programme is designed to encourage families to bond with their newborn children and it is a significant milestone to have had so many families involved. Speakers highlighted the work of the Foundation and the benefits to families as we help them to create the essential nurturing and supportive environment for newborns.

Storytime Foundation Winter 2011 Newsletter
Storytime Foundation Here to Stay
Storytime Foundation is planning its expansion into other communities of New Zealand. Up until now the growth has been within what is now the Auckland City region. We are also pleased to announce that a CEO has been appointed to lead the expansion. We will be announcing further details of the expansion in the next edition. The Books for Babies programme is designed to encourage families to bond with their newborn children. This is complementary to the findings in the Gluckman Report released last month. The report, commissioned by Prime Minister John Key, looks into the issues that lead to adverse behaviour in adolescence. The findings point to a need for intervention at an early age. The Storytime Foundation programme "Books for Babies" is targeted at exactly the right age group, being birth to 3 years.

Storytime Foundation Winter 2010 Newsletter
Storytime Foundation Now Delivering Across Auckland
Storytime Foundation is proud to announce the delivery of our core programme "Books for Babies" throughout Auckland City, Waitakere City and from August 2010, Manukau City. The Books for Babies programme is designed to encourage families to bond with their newborn children and to discover the moments of magic that can occur when cuddling and playing with a young child. We, via Plunket and other Well child providers, give age appropriate books to families, who have not yet had an experience of using books as a stimulus to laughter and joy with their young baby.



Storytime Foundation Summer 2009
Books for Babes Trust has a new name - Storytime Foundation
Books for Babes Trust was formed in 1997 and has successfully delivered over 27,000 books to families in the Greater Auckland region. 11 years ago we started delivering books in some suburbs of Auckland City and we are now expanding to deliver books throughout Greater Auckland and ultimately New Zealand. To celebrate this expansion and the success of the programme, Books for Babes Trust has taken a new name – Storytime Foundation. Our name celebrates what we aim to achieve; families sharing story-time and creating moments of magic with their children. Reading stories to children can be a joy to both the children and the parents and a warm loving relationship is encouraged.Our core programme of delivering 5 books in 15 months to high need families with newborn children, will be called “Books for Babies” to reflect our history and to raise awareness that babies respond wonderfully to story-time and the warmth and attention of their families to create moments of magic.

Winter 2008 Newsletter
A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP
Books for Babes Trust is expanding and meeting the needs of families across Auckland. We have now delivered over 16,000 books to families with new born children in Auckland. In conjunction with funding organisations and our partners Plunket, ADHB, Auckland Libraries, Manukau Libraries, Waitakere Libraries and Rotary Club of Auckland, we are making a real contribution to the awareness of the value of reading to children. Books for Babes Trust currently offers the Books for Babies programme throughout Auckland City. We are seeking funding to extend the programme out to Greater Auckland and a pilot programme in Taranaki. In addition we are working with partners to provide Books for Newborns in Waitakere City and areas of Manakau City. Penguin group and other publishers are supporting Books for Babes by providing us generous discounts. If you are interested in providing a regular donation please follow the 'How to Help' link on our website or contact us

Summer 2008 Newsletter
Books for Babes turns 10.
Books for Babes has recently had a burst of great publicity with the help of a unique AUT PR team called “Outside the Square”. Three final year AUT students created and implemented a communications strategy for the trust , planned and ran a 10th birthday celebration event and ran an online charity book auction.
The birthday celebration held at Panmure Community Library and was a great hit with all. The children were treated to Hilary Barry, Leah Panapa and Suzanne Paul reading their favourite stories, followed by craft activities and morning tea.



Spring 2007 Newsletter
Read to babies and we’ll all be better off claims Mem Fox, Australia’s most highly regarded picture-book author. She is a passionate believer in the read-aloud mantra and shares her views in the Spring Books for Babes newsletter. “Many parents now know of the particular importance of reading aloud in the first 12 months of life; and also how crucial it is in the first four months when the learning pathways are laid down in the brain”.






Winter 2007 Newsletter
Books for Babes all set to grow. The Books for Babes Trust has appointed a consultant, Carol Scholes, as Development Executive. She will be working with exisitng partners and new donors to expand the coverage area of our programme.








Autumn 2007 Newsletter
Our Autumn newsletter announces the launch of the Books for Babes website. This venture into cyberspace has been made possible by the generous support of the Lion Foundation which has provided funds for the development to date.








Summer 2006 Newsletter
Our summer newsletter features Dr Emma Davies (Programme Leader: Children and Families, with AUT University's Institute of Public Policy) on the importance of nurturing relationships between parents and their children.








Spring 2006 Newsletter
Our spring newsletter featured a strong endorsement by the Principal Youth Court Judge of New Zealand, Andrew Becroft and highlighted our recent Police support.









Winter 2006 Newsletter
Our winter newsletter featured a most interesting article by statistician and researcher Peter Mullins as well as a personal testimonial from Auckland Central Plunket Nurse, Margaret Wong.