We’ve loved the previous free books initiative at Big W and we’re super excited that it’s starting up again. Clear some space in your bookshelf ’cause you won’t want to miss getting these books.

This is the fourth installment of Big W’s Free Books for Kids program, launching in stores from Thursday 6 August.

It’s all about sparking a love of reading at the moment. Coles recently started their Little Treehouse books collection, but there is a minimum spend of $30 to get your free mini-book. However, with Big W’s free books concept, you don’t actually have to pay a cent to claim your copy. You just need to go in-store and collect it yourself. And while you’re there, it’s just impossible to resist the lure of the shopping paradise within….

Big W’s free book program will give away 2.6 million books to Australian families over the course of eight weeks with one new title released each week.

Audio Books Available Too

Big W will also be releasing audio recordings weekly on the ‘BIG W Free Books for Kids’ podcast which can be found on Acast, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

“It has been a challenging year for Aussie families – financial pressures of COVID-19 have had a significant impact, with research indicating that over 70% of parents saying it has prevented them from buying books. We’re humbled to continue this important and much-loved program during this period, giving more families and local communities access to books,” said Big W’s GM Marketing, Kristen Linders.

Reading More

Big W’s research has also found that almost half of Aussie parents have been reading to their children more often since COVID-19, with the timely Free Books program affording families the opportunity to add to their personal library and foster a love of reading at home.

Safe Collection

Big W has implemented COVID-safe precautions in place with hand sanitiser stations at the front of every Big W store and the books located close by in a self-serve unit for a convenient and quick collection.

No Free Books For Victoria For Now

In addition, free books won’t be available in Victoria, for now.

“We are pausing Free Books for Kids in Victoria only for the time being, as we know that the families that shop with us won’t be able to visit our stores as regularly as they would like. But don’t worry, the books have been set aside and are being kept safe, and we can’t wait to begin the program once the Victorian government makes the decision to lift restrictions,” Big W said on their facebook page.

Millions of Free Books

Over 11.5 million books will have been given away by Big W since the program started in 2019. When the initiative first launched in February 2019, we couldn’t have been more excited. We loved getting a new Aussie-flavoured book each week. The second free books installment happened a few months later with a series of eight fun books by popular Australian authors. Then a third lot of freebies got the Wiggles treatment with a series of eight Wiggles books given away in early February this year.

For the first time, BIG W is also working directly with community groups across Australia to give away an additional 40,000 books to local hospitals, primary schools and childcare centres, getting more books into the hands of more children across the country.

What Are The FREE BOOKS?

Let’s take a look at the eight free books on offer this time. May Gibbs’ classic A Ragged Blossom Tale is the first in the series to collect, with the first four picture books catering to younger children, and the final four full-sized chapter books ideal for older kids wanting to start a series of chapter books and follow the adventures of favoured characters, like Captain Underpants, Minecraft and Ella and Olivia.

The full list of books are below:

1. A Ragged Blossom Tale

2. Lullaby and Goodnight – An Australian Lullaby

3. The Witch’s Britches

4. If You’re Cheeky And You Know It!

5. The Adventures of Captain Underpants

6. Ella and Olivia – Cupcake Catastrophe

7. Diary of a Minecraft Zombie – Book 1

8. Pearl the Magical Unicorn

Are you excited about the launch of the free books at Big W? Tell us in the comments below.