Our annual Book Hut programme is new for 2025-2026 and is offered solely to those schools that have received books from us for two years or longer. We'll continue to donate 100s of new and pre-loved books to supplement children's bookshelves but the huts have an additional role: somewhere where children can also drop off the books they themselves have grown out of.
The Reading Agency's theory of change for a developing reader acknowledges the impact on a child's identity of being able to make book recommendations to a friend, to loan a book they love or pass a book on. Children that have previously selected books via Children's Book Project events and other channels now have the chance to enjoy sending their own books on new adventures.
WHAT DO SCHOOLS RECEIVE?
- A beautiful hut on loan for the school year
- An initial donation of 500 books
- A subsequent donation of a further 2 books per child
- The resources to support a school 'Book Drive'
HOW DOES IT WORK
Each Book Hut presents an inclusive, inviting focal point for children and families to browse books to take home and to donate books they've grown out of. Though a child should not have to donate a book in order to take a book, we know that many children will have pre-loved books that they will want to pass on. The opportunity to share, talk about and recommend books we've enjoyed ourselves is an important element of our reader identity and is an integral element of our Book Hut For a Year programme.
Participating schools will need to promote to parents and children the opportunity to bring in any books they've grown out of to ensure their Book Hut becomes a dynamic resource used by the whole school. The chance to pass on books they've enjoyed helps children to develop as confident readers, while feeling part of a vibrant reading community. Schools should be clear and deliberate about promoting the book donation opportunity: it sits at the heart of this programme, fostering peer recommendations, social connections, and lifelong reading habits.
Further information and links to additional digital resources you can use to promote your Book Hut follow below. To support book buzz and ensure the widest impacts we encourage schools to be as proactive as possible in promoting their Book Hut to staff, pupils, and families.