The company that created the Hamburglar is stealing hearts.
From Feb. 2 through 15, the prize inside of Happy Meals will be a book, according to media rep for McDonald's.
Three of the four paperbacks, which are roughly 4½ by 5½ inches, are Valentine’s Day themed. They include Clark the Shark Takes Heart by Bruce Hale, Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond and Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day Is Cool by Kimberly and James Dean. The company has also decided to include one title many have loved for years -- the classic book Paddington by Michael Bond.
The books, which will replace plastic Nerf or Pokemon toys, come with Valentine’s Day cards and can be scanned to play a game online. According to the Los Angeles Times, the items will be available in Spanish at some locations.
Although the idea of stuffing books in kiddie meals seems novel, it’s not. This is the third year McDonald’s has partnered with the literacy nonprofit Reading is Fundamental for this particular project. The giveaway also ran in 2013 and 2015.
McDonald’s began to tease the relaunch of mini-paperbacks in its Happy Meals on Feb. 1, by tweeting at parents who applauded the presence of the books in 2015:
By the end of the 2016 giveaway, McDonald’s and Reading Is Fundamental will have distributed more than 50 million books to children since 2013. According to the organization, that amount is “ enough to provide a book to every child in America under the age of 12.”
“Books are the building blocks for a better future. They foster the imagination, expand our understanding of the world and fuel a lifelong love of learning. We’re pleased McDonald’s is helping millions of children discover the joy of reading,” Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, said in a post on Medium.
Check out an adorable girl reviewing the books in the video below:
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