McDonald's USA Brings Back Happy Meal Books

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Jan 7, 2015) - McDonald's USA is giving millions of kids nationwide access to books with the second installment of Happy Meal Books.

From Jan. 9-22, McDonald's will offer books as the toy in Happy Meals, providing more than 17 million books to families across the U.S. Through a new collaboration with HarperCollins Children's Books, families will be able to enjoy a collection of four classic, Happy Meal-sized books: "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," "Big Nate: In a Class by Himself" (abridged), "Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses" and "Flat Stanley Goes Camping." Each book, which also has a related activity element, brings imagination and play to life in a way that only McDonald's can. Books are available in English and, in select locations, in Spanish.

For more information about Happy Meal Books, visit www.McDonalds.com.

"This is the latest step in our ongoing efforts to enrich the lives of families, and part of a broader book strategy to combine the fun of the Happy Meal and support of our partners to inspire more family reading time," said Julie Wenger, senior director of U.S. marketing at McDonald's. "For the second time in two years, we're proud to invite families to spread the spirit of learning and lovin' that's synonymous with our brand through these fun, classic Happy Meal Books."

McDonald's is again collaborating with Reading Is Fundamental (www.RIF.org), the largest children's literacy non-profit in the U.S. Together, they aim to help more children and their families discover the joy of reading. RIF will also distribute 100,000 Happy Meal Books to children who do not have easy access to books. Happy Meal Books are also supported by new partner HarperCollins (www.hc.com), one of the leading and best regarded publishers of children's books.

"Books are essential for inspiring children to explore, dream and achieve, yet far too many children do not have access to this basic resource," said Reading Is Fundamental CEO Carol Hampton Rasco. "For the second time, we're partnering with McDonald's, another organization that embraces the transformative power of books. Together, we'll continue to enrich kids' lives through access to books and by putting the fun back in reading."

Books Reinforce Ongoing Commitment to Children's Happiness and Well-Being
McDonald's Happy Meal Books are among the company's latest actions supporting a commitment to champion children's happiness and well-being. McDonald's aims to inspire kids to engage in active and imaginative play in a fun way and develop a sense of community.