PRH and Parton’s Imagination Library to donate books to refugee children every month

Penguin Random House has partnered with singer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and charity Give a Book on a pilot project to deliver a book a month to 200 refugee children living in London until they turn five. 

The initiative comes from Imagination Library’s global book gifting programme, which already works with PRH. The books will be distributed through Give a Book’s network of partner schools and community centres across Greater London, including refugee centres and asylum-seeker drop-ins. 

Francesca Dow, m.d. of PRH Children’s, said: “At Penguin our mission is to make books for everyone, but the reality is that not everyone in society has equal access to books. Literature and books are vital to building understanding, and creating a sense of belonging that can be crucial in a new and unfamiliar place. What is especially exciting about these donations is that the children will be receiving new books every month, and will be able to build up their own personal collection of books to keep and to have, as they grow.” 

The books have been chosen by a book selection committee that takes great care to include titles that represent diversity in terms of ethnicity, disability, relationships and family composition. The books that refugee families will receive include illustrated nursery rhymes, as well as favourites such as Where is the Very Hungry Caterpillar? (Puffin), King Jack (Puffin) and Billy and the Dragon (Jonathan Cape). 

Nadia Shireen, author of Billy and the Dragon, said: “Children’s books are magical portals that can comfort, console and delight. For families who have been through unimaginable upheaval, receiving a book to share may be a small thing, but it will hopefully also be a loving, warm and familiar thing. I am so honoured that Billy and the Dragon has been chosen to be a part of this fantastic initiative.” 

Nic Schlagman, head of social action and interfaith, at an asylum seekers’ drop-in centre at West London Synagogue added: “This is an excellent initiative that will benefit children and their parents – it’s a wonderful idea to help support families who have so often had a very difficult time.”