National Literacy Trust and Enterprise give 25,000 copies of Henry’s first novel to children 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the National Literacy Trust are giving away 25,000 copies of Sir Lenny Henry’s first novel, The Boy With Wings (Macmillan Children’s), to Year Five and Six pupils across the UK.

The partnership aims to boost rates of reading for pleasure. This year’s giveaway is part of Enterprise’s Road Forward, a $55m fund from the philanthropic Enterprise Holdings Foundation to support social and racial equity projects across the world.

The books will arrive in schools at the start of UK Black History Month this October and the National Literacy Trust has produced video resources and lesson plans featuring CBeebies star Joanna Adeyinka-Burton and "Matilda The Musical" actress Sienna Clarke.

Resources will be available to participating schools for one week and will be accessible to all schools and parents from 10th October online.

The Boy With Wings, illustrated by Keenon Ferrell, was chosen because it portrays "important messages about race, inclusion and diversity wrapped up in an exciting and fun adventure", as well as including an exclusive comic book created by Marvel artist Mark Buckingham.

Henry said: “I want to make sure as many kids as possible have access to books and this project brilliantly targets those kids who don’t have books at home. Reading – with lots of trips to my local library in Dudley – was such an important part of my childhood, it took me on so many different adventures and to so many different worlds. Here’s to The Boy With Wings flying into homes across the UK thanks to the National Literacy Trust and Enterprise."

Darranda Rowswell, director of development at the National Literacy Trust, said: “Creating a culture of reading for pleasure in schools is crucial to increasing literacy levels, which in turn gives children access to more opportunities throughout their lives. 

“The Boy With Wings is an excellent choice of book for this project because Sir Lenny Henry’s story gives children of Black heritage the chance to see themselves and their lives in the books they read, as well as engaging children of all backgrounds in the adventures of Tunde. We’re so excited to see this partnership create a culture of reading and encouraging a love of stories that we hope will stay with children for the rest of their lives.”

Samantha Smith, publisher at Macmillan Children’s Books, added: “’Macmillan Children’s Books is thrilled to be working with partners who are just as passionate as we are about spreading a love of reading and getting books into the hands of children across the UK. Lenny Henry’s exciting, adventurous and funny The Boy With Wings is the perfect read to encourage children to spread their wings."