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The Booksellers Association and Egmont UK will this summer give children aged 7-11, £10 book tokens to help reluctant readers enjoy reading for pleasure.
The BA/Egmont Eager Reader Project, launched as part of the BA’s diversity and inclusiveness project and paid for by both parties, will fund an six-week summer reading scheme at eight bookshops across the country. Booksellers will work with local schools to give children who are reluctant to read a £10 book token, which they can spend in the participating bookshop on any titles they like.
The parents will receive a £10 voucher for a local coffee shop each week and in return will commit to reading with their child for 20 minutes every day.
At the end of the project the families will be given a ‘thank you’ book token.
Meryl Halls, m.d. of the BA, said: “We know how excited and inspired booksellers have been by the Egmont reading initiatives and we are delighted to partner with their innovative and energetic team to create a version of this project for local bookshops. We are really looking forward to the results of the pilot this summer.”
If the pilot is successful, the BA will roll out a wider programme later this year.
Booksellers who want to take party can apply by submitting a brief application explaining why they and their local community should be chosen to participate, and what they would bring to the project.