Bokstart.
Several municipalities in Norway.
December 26th 2025
Stiftelsen LESE
Torggata 5
The LESE Foundation works to ensure that everyone in Norway, regardless of background, has access to literature and experiences reading as a source of imagination, joy and education.
Vibeke Røgler.
Executive Director
https;//stiftelsenlese.no
Foundation
16
Bokstart.
Several municipalities in Norway.
2018
- To promote early reading joy and making literature available for young children and their parents. - To strengthen parents’ meaningful role in their children’s development of language and identity. Strengthens parent–child bonding through reading. - To provide children with developing a language (also indigenous languages). - Encourage families to visit the library.
Directorate of Education and from private foundations.
Several municipalities.
Not for profit.
None.
Stiftelsen LESE has a coordinating role, and contributes materials, guidance and professional knowledge and competence to municipalities that implement Bookstart. The regional differences relate to the number of book packages, and cooperation between the sectors within the municipality. In some municipalities, the program is a collaboration between the library and the health center. In other municipalities, it also includes collaboration with kindergartens, literature houses and other institutions. We collaborate with the Sámi Parliament, which distributes Sami children's books to families, both in the Sami-speaking area and in other parts of Norway. Sami is a Nordic indigenous language group, and the project promotes parents to speak and read in sami to their children.
The program is under development. From autumn 2026, the program will include three gifting pack: • 8 month old babies: The book “Revungen” • 2 year olds: The parents can choose one book out of two different books: Åse og Kjeks or Dyrenes tellebok. • From 2026: Extending to 4–5-year-olds with a book gift at 4-year health check. In addition, we are handing out a booklet with information regarding the importance of reading for the development of language. From 2026 it will also include more digital resources for parents (reading tips etc.). The Sámi Parliament distributes book packages for Sami families.
Yes.
Library, Health clinic. From 2026, we will develop a new Bookstart initiative for educators in kindergardens.
Healthcare workers, librarians.
No.
Universal.
Between 20.000-25.000 children (The program is under development and will have a wider reach over time).
6 – 12 months, 2-4 years, 4-5 years.
No, but we are considering developing and including book packages for children with special needs.
An evaluation of the pilot was conducted in autumn 2021 under the leadership of Professor at the University of Stavanger (Norway), Natalia Kucirkova. A separate report was published in 2022, which mainly consists of an assessment of statements and responses from parents, librarians, and public health nurses who participated in the Bokstart project in Oslo. Presentations of key findings: Findings from Evaluation of Bookstart in Norway https://globalnetwork.euread.com/wp-content/uploads/Bookstart-Norway_Natalia.pdf Report in Norwegian: Rapport Bokstartprosjekt 2022.pdf https://www.uis.no/sites/default/files/2022-08/Rapport%20Bokstartprosjekt%202022.pdf Research article: Kucirkova, N., & Grøver, V. (2022). The Importance of Embodiment and Agency in Parents’ Positive Attitudes Towards Shared Reading with Their Children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10643-022-01415-1
We are currently in the process of hiring an organization to evaluate the project.
