Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s largest children’s literacy organization, partners with McDonald’s and its mission to put books in millions of little hands. Some stores will offer the books in Spanish.
Ensuring children have access to books has proven instrumental in combating illiteracy in children in the United States. Studies prove the simple act of reading a book to a child at bedtime has a direct impact on his or her educational growth and potential. To help fill this critical need, McDonald’s began distributing Happy Meal Books in 2013 and, by the end of this year, will have distributed more than 50 million books to children — enough to provide a book to every child in America under the age of 12.
To put that into more perspective, McDonald’s USA will have distributed more than twice the number of children’s books than are cataloged in the classification system at the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. The books are specially made to fit into Happy Meals -- they're petite paperbacks, about 4½ by 5½ inches. Spanish-language versions of the books will be available at some stores.
For children without access to books, the statistics are staggering. Nearly 65% of 4th graders read at or below the basic level. And more than 75% of children who are poor readers by the end of 3rd grade remain poor readers and ultimately fall behind in school.
Numerous studies confirmed the number of books in a home directly predicts a child’s proficiency at reading. In fact, a child who grows up with books in his or her home reaches a higher level of education than those who do not. To further make an impact, McDonald’s has donated 100,000 books from this year’s Happy Meal Books program to RIF. With two-thirds of children living in poverty without books, McDonald’s is helping to provide critical access to books to inspire children to read. RIF, working together with McDonald’s and HarperCollins, ensure that books and the joy of reading remain a part of every child’s growth and development.
The benefits of reading abound. It increases a strong foundation of learning, keeps kids in school, increases graduation rates and inspires the pursuit of post-secondary education and training required to transition into adulthood.
