Quarto Group and McDonald’s to bring Little People, Big Dreams series to Happy Meals 

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, an imprint of the Quarto Group, has partnered with McDonald’s to produce a new range of books for Happy Meals based on the Little People, Big Dreams series by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara.

First launched in 2015, the Happy Meal Readers Programme offers families the opportunity to choose between a book or a toy when purchasing a McDonald’s Happy Meal.

The new Little People, Big Dreams programme will feature 12 books, each containing abridged stories from the original series created by Sánchez Vegara.

Each book, titled “I Can…”, aims to inspire readers by highlighting well-known, impactful individuals with diverse talents and backgrounds from fields such as music, sports, science and more. 

Titles will include the likes of, I Can Be a Curious Scientist and I Can Be a Brave Adventurer. Books in select markets will also include a QR code where families can access interactive online activities. 

McDonalds’ Little People, Big Dreams – I Can programme will run in over 30 countries around the world, first launching across Australia, Fiji and New Zealand in August 2022, followed by Asia, Europe and Canada in September and the Middle East, UK and Ireland in 2023. The inclusion of more territories is also to be confirmed.

Sánchez Vegara said: “I’m delighted to be working with McDonald’s on their acclaimed Happy Meal Reader’s programme! It’s an amazing initiative that inspires new readers every day, and I’m so excited to be sharing these incredible human stories with more little dreamers than ever before!”

According to the publisher, the series has been published in 39 languages and over 93 countries, with over 8.5 million copies sold worldwide.

Shannon Cullen, group publishing director for Children’s at The Quarto Group, said: “Isa’s unique talent for storytelling — plus the work of over 100 incredible artists — has inspired curiosity and creativity in millions of children around the world. We’re excited that this international partnership with McDonald’s Happy Meal Readers means even more children will be able to read the stories of people who, just like them, were once little people with big dreams.”

More than 700 million books have been distributed to children since the launch of the Happy Meal Readers programme in 2015 according to McDonald’s. Given out as a gift with Happy Meals, the books use 100% recyclable materials.