Baby Week 2026

The Read Manchester/Manchester Libraries team was excited to take part in the Baby Week 2026 launch event recently. There was a full programme of activities and events for expectant parents, parents, and babies. The launch was held in the city centre at Manchester Art Gallery with a wide range of organisations and partners taking part, all promoting the importance of the early days of a child’s life – and how this period is critical for their lifelong learning, health, and development. 

Manchester Libraries had a fantastic stall full of brand-new free board books donated by Read Manchester all suitable for babies- we want every Manchester baby to have the best start in life and we know that children who have an early introduction to books and are read to every day, benefit educationally, culturally, socially and emotionally.  

A smiling woman holding an infant in a casual setting with colorful wallpaper and other people in the background.
A smiling woman holds a baby in her arms, both looking happy in a brightly-colored indoor space with other parents and children in the background.
A man holding a baby in denim overalls, both looking at each other, surrounded by a busy gallery filled with people and artworks. The man is also holding a library card application booklet.
A smiling woman in a hijab holds a baby, while a man with a beard stands beside them, holding a children's book titled 'Woof! Woof!' and other educational materials. They are in an indoor venue with a colorful, patterned wall in the background.
A smiling woman holding a happy baby in a carrier, surrounded by people in a room with colorful wallpaper.
A smiling woman wearing glasses holds a baby in a front carrier while displaying a children's book titled 'Hello You!' in a colorful indoor setting with other families around.

Read Manchester also provided ongoing story sharing sessions throughout the day which were very popular, and captivated babies and parents alike! 

Joanne Farrell (Early Years Locality Lead) said “Having Read Manchester at our Baby Week Launch added real value to the event. The stall and storytelling sessions created a warm, engaging space for families, highlighting the importance of sharing stories, language and books from the earliest age. Throughout the day, parents and carers were able to see first-hand how reading together supports children’s communication, imagination and emotional development. The sessions were incredibly well received and helped reinforce one of the key messages of Baby Week – that small interactions can make a big difference to a child’s future. Thank you for helping to make the event such a success.” 

Three women standing behind a table with various educational materials and brochures, smiling at the camera. The background features a classical painting and the table displays signs for a free walk and talk trail, along with colorful activity packs.
Two people sitting on a quilted floor, holding children's books, with a banner in the background promoting literacy and a table with additional books and activities.
Two women smiling while holding 'My First Library Card' booklets and other reading materials at a library event, with artwork in the background.

Staff and volunteers from the National Literacy Trust also joined in the fun, gifting packs containing a wide range of information, picture books for older siblings and talking to parents about Read Manchester volunteering opportunities. Take a look at how much these babies love their new books! 

We also took the opportunity to sign up over 140 babies as Manchester Library members!  Each baby received their very own First Library Card, designed by local illustrator, Emma Reynolds. 

Illustration of four diverse children's faces with the text 'My First Library Card' above them, set against a light yellow background with festive bunting and stars.

Did you know? Most Manchester Libraries hold fantastic weekly Storytimes! 

These sessions are suitable for pre-school children and are completely free to attend. The sessions will introduce your baby or toddler to stories and rhymes, and it’s also a great opportunity to meet other local parents and to find out about other events for you and your little one in the local area. Developing a love of books from an early age will give your child the very best start in life. 

Details of library events including Storytimes can be found on the website. Storytimes for under 5s | It’s Storytime at Manchester libraries | Manchester City Council 

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