Around one million children in the UK do not own a book of their own, despite evidence that children who own books are almost four times more likely to enjoy reading. For children growing up in poverty, a lack of books at home can limit confidence, vocabulary and engagement with learning. Without opportunities to read for pleasure, many miss out on the lifelong educational, social and emotional benefits that book ownership can unlock. We want to change that.

We partner with schools serving underserved communities to transform school halls into vibrant pop-up bookshops where every child can browse, choose and keep books they genuinely want to read. By placing choice at the heart of every event, we recreate the excitement of visiting a bookshop without the financial barriers. Working with publishers and local communities, we redistribute high-quality new and pre-loved books, inspiring children to read while giving books a meaningful second life.