Lovin’ it: Free book tokens make a very Happy Meal for McDonald’s Kilkenny customers
McDonald’s customers in Kilkenny can pick up a free €1.50 book token with every Happy Meal that is bought between now and April 13.
The fast-food giant said McDonald’s Ireland is offering World Book Day tokens with its new Happy Meal box “as part of its continued commitment to promoting children’s literacy”. The €1.50 book token can be spent in selected bookstores nationwide.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “As a strong advocate of literacy promotion, McDonald’s aims to help children around the country discover the pleasure of reading and provide them with the opportunity to develop a love of books. In 2020, nearly 280,000 books were given away to children all across Ireland as part of their Happy Meal Campaigns. Last year, McDonald’s also made the move to provide the option of children’s books with all its Happy Meals, allowing children the option to choose a book instead of a toy.”
The most recent OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey in 2018 found that reading performance decreased in Ireland in comparison with the previous survey in 2015. McDonald’s said that with some school children still home-schooling as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, “/keeping children engaged with reading and improving their literacy skills is vitally important”.
Michelle Graham-Clare, VP of Marketing & Food at McDonald’s added: “We are proud to distribute thousands of books every year as part of our Happy Meal. As a mum of two, I know the importance of making sure children develop a love of reading, but also the struggle that can come with finding the time to read together at home. We also know that for many it is not just about time, but access to books and stories. Our aim in supporting children’s literacy is to support as many families as possible to share stories – in whatever way they can: whether that is at bedtime; or over Zoom with loved ones they might not have seen for a while.”
World Book Day’s €1.50 books can be found in major supermarkets as well as bookshop chains and hundreds of independent booksellers. A full list is available here: https://booksellers.org.uk/wbd
