Copyright and song and rhyme origins

Every reasonable effort has been made to check copyright of the songs and rhymes featured on the Bookbug app, website and within training materials. If there are any errors or omissions, Scottish Book Trust will be pleased to insert the appropriate acknowledgement in any subsequent updates of these materials.

In addition, every reasonable effort has been made to check the origins of songs and rhymes featured in the Bookbug programme for historical racist intent. Scottish Book Trust recently removed the songs Jump Jim Joe, Five Little Monkeys and Little Pebbles from its repertoire, as it was brought to our attention that these songs have a racist historical legacy. We ask all partners to ensure that these songs, or any iteration of them, are not used in their Bookbug activities. This includes using the same tune but changing the words. Racism has no place in our programme content and we take this issue very seriously indeed. We periodically review all content, and will remove anything that has a historical racist legacy as soon as we are made aware. We support #blacklivesmatter and are committed to doing more(this link will open in a new window).

We recommend listening to the current version of the Bookbug Toddler CD album on the Bookbug app(this link will open in a new window) or on our website.

Although these songs have not ever featured in our Bookbug Song and Rhyme library, research has found racist origins for The Sun Has Got its Hat On and evidence of racist playground versions of Down in the Jungle. Our Bookbug trainers therefore avoid these songs in their sessions. We recommend all Bookbug Practitioners are empowered and take responsibility to check their own songs, rhymes and books for use in sessions. We cover this in our Bookbug training and are happy to offer advice on how to do this. If something doesn't feel right, use another song or rhyme that is on our Bookbug app or Song and Rhyme library. If you’re unsure you can ask us for advice by contacting bookbug@scottishbooktrust.com(this link will open in a new window)