Books2Door donates 18,000 titles for World Book Day

Independent online children’s bookseller Books2Door is donating 18,000 books to charities, libraries, schools and hospitals across the UK in celebration of World Book Day (WBD).

The company, which was founded by Sweet Cherry Publishing m.d. Abdul Thadha, will be partnering organisations including the Children’s Literacy Charity, Alder Hey Children’s Charity and several primary schools and regional libraries to distribute the books. Sweet Cherry Publishing will provide the books.

The donation coincides with Books2Door’s 18th birthday on 2nd March, the day before WBD. As part of the campaign, the company has also invited social media followers to come forward with their own suggestions of where books can be donated.

Sweet Cherry Publishing donated almost 20,000 new children’s books in 2021, including 17,500 for World Book Day and 1,000 books for Samir Mansour’s bookshop in Gaza City after it was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike.

Leicester City Council was also gifted 1,000 books to welcome Afghanistan refugees and families into the city. As part of the campaign, Books2Door is also encouraging other charity partners to get in touch to participate.

“I can’t believe we’re celebrating 18 years," Thadha said. "During and post-pandemic, we have seen the love for reading at an all- time high but our main focus is to ensure that parents and children can access books at a cost they can afford.

"At the same time, we recognise that not every child has this. That’s why we are donating 18,000 brand new children’s books across the country for free. We would like to thank every partner that has been involved and we hope this is the start of a long-term relationship with each of them.”

Senior community fundraising manager of Alder Hey children’s charity, Axon Irene, said: “What a wonderful gift for our patients to receive.”

A spokesperson for the Children’s Literacy Charity said: “We are incredibly grateful to Books2Door for their donation of books which will benefit the children who attend our partner primary schools in London and Manchester.”