More than 2.4 million books from the popular Mr Men Little Miss Series will be given away to help spread the love of story time among Aussie families.
According to BIG W’s Storytime Study, almost two thirds (60 per cent) of parents consider bedtime reading to be one of the most precious daily routines, however, a third (33 per cent) of parents spend less than 15 minutes per day reading with their little ones.
With over half (55 per cent) of parents believing their children should be reading more and one in three (33 per cent) citing budget restraints as a barrier, Free Books for Kids aims to provide Aussie kids with greater access to books and instil a love of reading.
In a quest to celebrate the joy of the Mr Men Little Miss Series and the adventures of the iconic characters, BIG W has uncovered a real-life Mr Collector in its ranks.
BIG W team member Michael Ubrihien from Canberra, is Australia’s Mr Men superfan.
Michael has amassed an incredible collection of more than 880 Mr Men Little Miss books, toys, figurines, apparel, posters, DVDs and games, worth thousands and accumulated over 20 years.
To mark this year’s instalment of Free Books for Kids, parents and carers are encouraged to take a page out of Ubrihien’s book and collect all eight titles from the iconic Mr Men Little Miss series, dropping in BIG W stores weekly each Thursday.
The colourful tales from Happyland include, Little Miss Magic, Mr Bounce, Little Miss Wise, Mr Tall, Little Miss Happy, Mr Cheerful, Little Miss Curious and Mr Nonsense.
The retailer is also donating an additional 38,000 Mr.Men Little Miss books to Good360 to support families and schools in need, with an emphasis on flood-impacted communities.
Mr Ubrihien’s love for Mr Men Little Miss books started early in life, sparking a love of reading and fuelling his imagination as well as a sense of adventure.
“The world of Mr Men Little Miss is so charming, it’s easy to be transported to Happyland or Nonsenseland,” he said.
“The books really helped with my passion for reading, which continued to flourish throughout childhood and into adulthood.
“I love them because the stories are simple yet so diverse, engaging, and most of all, funny, with a cheeky quip at the end.”
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