By committing itself since 2024 to the national “First Pages” system, the Department of Nièvre reaffirms its desire to make culture accessible to everyone, everywhere in the territory and from a very young age. This approach was in the spotlight, this June 9, on the occasion of the inter-professional day “Hands on: reading with baby”, organized by the Nièvre Departmental Library in partnership with the Agency When the Books connect, in the presence of Martine Gaudin, departmental advisor responsible for attractiveness.
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“First Pages”, c’est quoi?
Launched in 2009 by the Ministry of Culture, “Premieres Pages” is a state label awarded to communities which develop sustainable cultural awareness and reading actions for children aged 0 to 3. Its ambition is to make the book an object of pleasure, discovery and sharing within families, particularly those who are far from cultural practices. The system is based on four pillars: reducing inequalities in access to reading, strengthening the parent-child bond, cooperation between professionals in culture, early childhood and care, as well as attendance at cultural places.
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Actions “First Pages of the Nièvre Departmental Library
Since its entry into the system, the Departmental Library has deployed numerous actions in the region. It enriches the collections intended for early childhood in the libraries of the departmental network, allowing families to access quality children’s literature free of charge.
Books are also made available in the waiting rooms of PMI consultations in order to meet families in their daily lives. The Department also supports future early childhood professionals by offering books to childminders in training. In addition, thematic suitcases combining albums, educational games and entertainment tools are offered to structures welcoming toddlers.
Shows intended for very young audiences are organized to introduce babies to the emotions of live performance, while “baby space” modules made up of carpets, adapted seats, soft toys and sensory objects can be borrowed during the sessions “baby reader”.
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The day “hand in hand: reading with babyâ€
The “hands on: reading with baby” day is fully part of this dynamic of awakening to reading.
After a first edition organized in 2025 in Authiou, this year it brought together nearly fifty people (public reading, early childhood, social and health professionals) around a reflection on the place of the body in reading with toddlers : the physical involvement of the reader, the child’s listening, the conditions of sharing and the choice of adapted readings. The day was punctuated by very beautiful moments of interprofessional sharing with thematic workshops, keys, exchanges of practices and experiences, but also many creations, creativity and presentations of works to best approach reading with the child.
Martine Gaudin, departmental advisor responsible for attractiveness, welcomed an important event for children’s awareness of culture and reading. More than a simple distribution of books, “First Pages” constitutes a transversal public policy which combines culture, social action and health in the service of the well-being and development of children. Unanimous conclusion of the participants of this day: “the cultural awakening of babies allows the awakening of parents”!
