Today we launch a nationwide campaign to celebrate 20 years of Bookstart. We'll be celebrating everything that the programme has achieved, including the 30 million free books that we have been able to gift since babies first started receiving packs in 1992. This year we are asking Bookstart supporters to pledge to share 20 books with children in 2012. (Of course, we'd love you to share more if you can!). The pledge postcard is available in libraries and children's centres in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The public can also pledge online at www.booktrust.org.uk/bookstart20

Making the pledge is a simple way for people to get into the habit of reading with their children and show their support for Bookstart. The routine of sharing books, stories, songs and rhymes with babies helps to build pre-literacy skills as well as providing a unique opportunity for parents and carers to build a strong and loving bond with their children.

Twenty well-known faces - including HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Coleen Rooney and War Horse author Michael Morpurgo - have made a pledge to share 20 books in 2012 too. Along with their pledge, the celebrities have also revealed their favourite books to share with children, which range from Dickens' classic Great Expectations to classics-in-the-making like Andy Stanton's Mr Gum series. 

The pledge postcard is available in libraries and children's centres in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. You can als...