In early 2023, the Hungarian National Museum Public Collection Centre National Széchényi Library initiated the development of the Book Starter Kit program. The project idea was born from the recognition that a book-rich environment in the earliest years of childhood plays a crucial role in raising future readers. Supported by a state-funded grant titled “Reading Families,” the Hungarian national library received the opportunity to design and implement this concept.

The aim of the program is to help young children discover reading as a source of joy from the very beginning, and to ensure that shared moments of storytelling and exploring books with family members are associated with positive emotions. Reading together with parents, grandparents, or older siblings not only strengthens family bonds, but also lays the foundation for a lifelong love of books. The selection, created specifically for children aged 0 to 3, includes board books, picture books, early nonfiction, and playful educational titles. These provide a tactile experience of books, helping even the youngest children connect with the world of reading. Curated by experts at the National Széchényi Library, the collection offers guidance not only for children, but also for parents seeking to nurture cultural development at home.

The Book Starter Kit packages are primarily distributed in disadvantaged regions, reaching families with young children who may find it difficult to purchase storybooks, yet warmly welcome this support from the national library.