McDonald's to Hand out FREE Books Instead of Toys

McDonald’s are handing out free Roald Dahl books with every happy meal box to inspire more children to enjoy reading.

The fast food giant is making 800,000 of the children’s books available in happy meals across New Zealand, as part of its Happy Meal Readers programme.

The books will feature extracts from Roald Dahl’s beloved books alongside illustrations by Quentin Blake.

The special books will be available in Happy Meals across New Zealand for the next six weeks, shares Daily Mail.

‘The Happy Meal Readers programme is all about helping parents to get their children to enjoy reading,’ said Jo Mitchell, director of marketing at McDonald’s New Zealand.

‘The Roald Dahl characters are ones that many parents will have enjoyed growing up, and it’s great to play a part in introducing them to a new generation.’

McDonald’s lovers in Australia don’t miss out on the books either, as the Happy Readers app is available to download and will ensure kids receive a free interactive book in their happy meal.

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42 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 29 Jan 2023
    8:44 am
Sounds like a great idea. Cant go wrong with a book

- - mom81879 said
  - 31 May 2019
    7:25 pm
This is great and I hope we see it more often. A book is so much better then a cheap toy that gets chucked out the next day

- - mom74005 said
  - 26 Mar 2019
    9:24 pm
THis was quite a good idea by McDonald’s

- - MisChip said
  - 07 Mar 2019
    10:40 pm
I think the books are quite good – but my son was rather disappointed to get a book instead of a toy.

- - tessie said
  - 06 Feb 2019
    12:03 pm
This is such a great idea.

- - rovermum said
  - 04 Feb 2019
    11:08 am
What a fantastic collaboration. Anything that encourages kids to read is great in my book!!!

- - MelissaK said
  - 03 Feb 2019
    9:34 am
Books are far better than toys, however younger kids need a physical book rather than something to download, like when they did the science ones.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 02 Feb 2019
    4:40 pm
that’s a great idea – the toys are just junk soon forgotten about anyway.

- - truman said
  - 02 Feb 2019
    9:38 am
The best gift in the happy meals ever. We dont get them often but much prefer a book then a toy that never gets played with the next day and beyond. The books however come out every night before bed.

- - mom343701 said
  - 02 Feb 2019
    9:29 am
Love the idea of books, no more plastic hopefully and inspiring young minds

- - amymcc said
  - 02 Feb 2019
    1:16 am
We don’t buy McDonalds or Happy Meals often at all, but I would books instead of a toy.
Although I’ve never thought the toys (now books) were free. I’ve always thought the price was build into the overall cost.

- - lgibson81 said
  - 02 Feb 2019
    12:40 am
Got a shock today when I went to open my sons happy meal. Thought it was fantastic! And so did my 4yo. Hope they adopt it as an ongoing thing. I hate the toys lol

- - mom332048 said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    10:57 pm
Such an amazing idea. I finish the toys useless. They might play with them once or twice and then that’s it’s. Where as the books we can use over and over. My children love reading. We read 6-10 books a day. Excellent idea

- - mom101628 said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    10:18 pm
Such a much better idea – it does at least promote reading in the children.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    9:42 pm
This is a good start…..now lets see McDonalds take this further

- - mkett57 said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    8:55 pm
I love the idea of books rather than little bits of useless plastic. And presumably they can be recycled once the child has finished with them.

- - mom134362 said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    8:42 pm
The books have been out for over a week on WA but are aimed at 6 and under. The whole story is in about 10 pages

- - musicmum said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    8:37 pm
Much better option than making rubbish that is going to landfill. Still does not make their food healthy though.

- - mom176887 said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    8:34 pm
great step…. albeit a tiny one towards giving children the tool by which they may one day discover the truth about what they need to put into their bellies! and it isn’t McDonalds!

- - littlehandsofmine said
  - 01 Feb 2019
    8:19 pm
Free books is a great idea!!