Food chain to give free children’s books with Happy Meals

11:28 - 05 February 2016

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McDonald to give free children’s books with Happy Meals

McDonald’s has announced it will replace toys in their Happy Meals with books.

From Tuesday 9 through Monday 15 February, its stores in the US will change the plastic toys that usually accompany its kids’ menus, known as Happy Meals, for books.

McDonald announced plans to give away more than 17 million paperbacks between now and Valentine’s Day including titles such as

The fast food giant has teamed up with literacy charity Reading is Fundamental and publishers Harper Collins to giveaway the books, which will each be specially made and measure 4.5 inches by 5.5 inches so it can fit inside the meal box.

They have been especially made to fit into the small Happy Meal boxes, and they will be available in Spanish in some restaurants.

“Ensuring children have access to books has proven instrumental in combating illiteracy in children in the United States,”Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading is Fundamental said in a statement.

McDonald’s said the promotion will mean it will have given away a total of more than 50 million books between 2013 and 2016.