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HarperCollins and the National Literacy Trust 'significantly' expand Our Little Big Book Club
HarperCollins and the National Literacy Trust (NLT) have announced the “significant” expansion of Our Little Big Book Club to reach 98 schools, up a quarter from last year.
The expansion takes place across 18 areas covered by the NLT across the UK, where low levels of literacy are seriously impacting people’s lives. Last year the reading scheme covered 75 schools but now the “significant” expansion will see another 23 schools involved.
This expansion means that Our Little Big Book Club, which launched in 2021 in three NLT areas, will now reach over 900 children and their families and caregivers, to foster a generation of enthusiastic young readers who may not otherwise have the opportunity for literary exploration and reading for pleasure.
Beginning after the Easter holidays, the expanded programme is continuing its mission to nurture a love for reading in children, particularly targeting those who are able to read but who show little evidence of reading for pleasure at home or in the classroom.
The club’s core initiative involves each participating student choosing four books for free from a varied selection of Collins, Farshore and HarperCollins Children’s Books titles. This selection process is designed to place empowerment in the hands of young readers, giving them the autonomy to explore their interests through literature.
Sarah McPhee, head of events and corporate social responsibility at HarperCollins, said: “Our collaboration with the National Literacy Trust reinforces our commitment to promoting reading for pleasure and ensuring that all children have that chance, regardless of their socioeconomic standing.”
Jonathan Douglas, NLT chief executive, said: “When a staggering one in eight children from disadvantaged backgrounds don’t have a book of their own at home, projects like this are vital in allowing those children to discover books to enjoy and take home, inspiring a lifelong love of reading.”
This expansion is part of HarperCollins’s ongoing commitment to providing children from disadvantaged backgrounds with access to books and other literacy resources, to help improve literacy levels, and foster a love for reading in future generations.
