• The Hub

    News, Notes, Talk

    Costa Coffee and The Reading Agency are giving out 100,000 books ahead of Christmas.

    By 
    December 11, 2020, 12:41pm

    Some good holiday news: Costa Coffee and literacy charity The Reading Agency have teamed up to donate 100,000 books to groups hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In total, 50,000 book-and-coffee care packages will be donated to food banks, community hubs, hospitals and care facilities across the U.K—all prior to December 24, as this campaign is inspired by Jolabokaflod, the Icelandic tradition of exchanging books with loved ones on Christmas Eve! (I didn’t know about this tradition, and now I’m obsessed.) Each care package is comprised of “a range of festive treats,” one adult book, and one children’s book; the books in each package are all written by best-selling authors associated with the Costa Book Awards.

    Said Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency: “Books connect and transport us to other worlds, but not everyone can access them: this has been especially true in 2020, which has been so challenging for so many . . . Initiatives like this help our work towards giving every child and adult equal access to the joy of reading.” True, and laudable. Happy holidays!

    [via The Bookseller]

    Costa Book Awards Costa Coffee donated books holidays The Hub The Reading Agency

    • Become a Lit Hub Supporting Member: Because Books Matter

    For the past decade, Literary Hub has brought you the best of the book world for free—no paywall. But our future relies on you. In return for a donation, you’ll get an ad-free reading experience, exclusive editors’ picks, book giveaways, and our coveted Joan Didion Lit Hub tote bag. Most importantly, you’ll keep independent book coverage alive and thriving on the internet.

    Become a member for as low as $5/month

    Dismiss without supporting Lit Hub
    x