Free Bookplates and More!

I was pleased to learn through the Child_Lit discussion group about the My Home Library website. This UK site is a fabulous source of free bookplates for children's books. According to Anne Fine, 2001-2003 Children's Laureate, "Schools, families and libraries all over the world are sticking our bookplates into books, old and new. Some print onto sticky labels; others print on paper, then use scissors and glue. (Try printing black and white plates out on different coloured paper. It's amazing how different they look.)" Children enjoy setting up their own home libraries and get a big kick out of choosing their own bookplates for their books.

The site also offers suggestions of children's books to look for at used bookstores and used book sales for your home library. Anne Fine has provided a page full of recommendations for each of three groups: Younger Readers, Older Readers, and Even Older Readers. Many of the books and authors are well known in both the UK and the United States, while some will only be familiar (and readily available) in the UK.

The site also provides tips for children on finding and sharing used books. There is also information on a wonderful braille project supported by Anne Fine, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, J K Rowling and Jacqueline Wilson. recall recall