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Better Beginnings

Better Beginnings - Read, Sing, Draw, Talk, Play

Sharing a love of reading, rhymes, singing and talking with your baby is one of the best things you can do to give them a head start in life and at school.

Better Beginnings is a family literacy program developed by the State Library of Western Australia to support parents as their child's first teacher. The program provides ongoing support to parents and caregivers in giving their children a love of reading.

Email us at better.beginnings@canning.wa.gov.au or visit the State Library Better Beginnings website to learn more.

A photograph of the baby book box

Baby Book Boxes

Canning families with babies aged 0-2 years can collect a free baby book box from their nearest City of Canning library or from their Child Health Nurse.

A photograph of the preschool book box

Preschool book boxes

Canning families with kindergarten aged children should expect to receive their preschool book packs from school. If you have not received your preschool pack, you can collect one from your nearest City of Canning Library.

Kindy teachers from schools within the City of Canning are can use the form below to order reading packs for their students each year.

A photograph of a father reading to two children

Stories and Rhymes

Our Stories and Rhymes sessions incorporate the Better Beginnings principles of 'read, talk, sing, write and play' with your child every day and are a great way to help you teach the five early literacy components to your child.

Better Beginnings Pack Requests

Teachers and nurses requesting Better Beginning packs, please complete this form:

Child Health Centres

Please continue to email better.beginnings@canning.wa.gov.au to book in New Parent Talks. Due to limited storage capacity at the libraries, we kindly request and appreciate that all orders be collected within 14 days of receiving your ‘ready for collection’ notification.

Library flyers?
A Canning Libraries Better Beginnings representative will email you to confirm your date and time.
Kindergartens

Kindy Talk: A Canning Libraries Better Beginnings representative will visit your school to talk to your class about being a librarian, read a story, and sing rhymes. They will also deliver your ordered packs directly to your school.

Please note:

  • Due to limited storage capacity, we kindly request that all orders be collected within 14 days of receiving your ‘ready to be collected’ email if no Kindy Talk is selected.
  • If you choose a Kindy Talk, your packs will be delivered on the day of the visit.
  • While we make every effort to have your order delivered from the State Library before your Kindy Talk, delays may occur. If this happens, we kindly ask that you collect your packs from Canning Libraries.
  • The deadline for your selected delivery month is the 14th of the month before. For example, if you would like April as your delivery month, the deadline for April orders is 14 March. This allows the State Library enough time to complete all orders before delivery.
Kindy Talk requested? A Canning Libraries Better Beginnings representative will email you to confirm a date within your selected delivery month.
Government of WA - State Library Western Australia - Better Beginnings

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