250 children’s books hidden around Maidstone as part of a local project

An initiative set up in Kent will see hundreds of books hidden away to entice children into reading.

The ‘Little Look for a Book’ project hid 250 books last month in and around Maidstone for families to find with their children.

Working in partnership with Usborne, the initiative aims to make reading fun and accessible.

The books are hidden in local communities, giving children the opportunity to hunt for a book, which they can then read and re-hide, or keep to read again in the future.

Property developer Countryside is supporting the program by donating £250.

Fiction and non-fiction, suitable for young readers aged two to eight, hit the Maidstone area in April – including Langley, Boughton Monchelsea and Loose.

Kirsty Mullett, Maidstone mum-of-two and project leader, said: “My mission is to make reading more fun for children.

“It’s something that started out as a hobby for me and my kids, but have loved expanding to support schools and nurseries with free reading challenges and events as well.

“In doing this I have seen the difference it can make first hand, so it is fantastic that we have been able to expand this initiative to promote reading for children’s enjoyment in the local Maidstone area.

“Countryside’s support of the project is so appreciated and has enabled us to hide an additional £250 for local children and families.”

The donation enabled the purchase of books ranging from nursery rhymes like Old Macdonald Had A Farm and fairy tales like Rumpelstiltskin and the Princess and the Pea, to classics like Pride and Prejudice and Little Women.

Danny Wood, Managing Director of Southern Home Counties at Countryside, said: “We are delighted to support such a fun and creative initiative, and that we have been able to play a part in helping to instill the joy of reading in children across Maidstone. “

To find out more, go to the Facebook page “Petit Cherche un Livre” here.