W H Smith launches ‘Gift a Gruffalo’ campaign with NLT and Pan Macmillan
W H Smith has launched a ‘Gift a Gruffalo’ campaign with the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Macmillan Children’s Books, a division of Pan Macmillan, to improve children’s early years literacy.
Copies of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s iconic tale, The Gruffalo (Pan Macmillan), will be donated to children from communities where the link between low literacy levels and poverty is the most evident. The book celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
The gifted copies will be distributed through the NLT literacy hubs – where they work with and in some of the most deprived communities in the UK to tackle low levels of literacy.
Customers will also be able to donate money to NLT at any W H Smith High Street store across the UK at the till point or online. All funds raised will support the charity’s ongoing work with communities, schools and local partners in socioeconomically deprived areas of the UK.
Jonathan Douglas, chief executive at National Literacy Trust, added: “The Gift a Gruffalo campaign supports the work we do with and in communities to build a child’s early language, literacy and communication skills right from the start.”
Joanna Prior, c.e.o. at Pan Macmillan said: “I can imagine no better way of celebrating the 25th birthday of this best loved, iconic character, than working in partnership with The National Literacy Trust and W H Smith to help get books into the hands of children who need them the most.”
Donaldson said: “I believe that all children should be able to access books and stories and the joy they can provide and this partnership will go a long way to help this become a reality.”
Scheffler said: “Discovering and enjoying picture books is an important moment for a child, and one that should be available to all.”
