Coventry parents can hunt free books around the city

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-05 10:25 3 min read

A silhouette of a family standing in a field during a golden sunset.

Children’s reading in Coventry is now being seeded in places families already pass every day, not only in service buildings.

From 5 August to 11 September 2026, Coventry City Council says the city’s eight Best Start Family Hubs are placing 300 free, water-resistant book packs around the city. The packs are being placed at parks, playgrounds, GP surgeries, bus stops and other family-friendly spots. The stated purpose is to help parents and carers of children aged 0-5, especially those who may not regularly use Family Hub services.

books in everyday routes

The council says the packs are spread evenly across Coventry, so the effort is focused on reducing the need for families to travel to a single venue just to access children’s books. In practical terms, this is a citywide literacy route designed to meet people where they already spend time.

Cllr Mal Mutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said the scheme helps pass on what people enjoyed as children and supports access for families who may not normally go into a local library or bookshop. Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Equalities, linked the campaign to wider child development benefits, including shared family time, vocabulary growth and concentration.

The city has also positioned the initiative as a continuation of earlier reading work, including the National Year of Reading activity and cosy book corners set up in each Hub centre. While this article does not claim the new scheme replaces existing services, it does present the Hubs as entry points into a wider family support system.

What each free pack includes

Each pack is built for outdoor and mixed-weather use and contains:
– a free children’s book for ages 0-5;
– reading tips for parents and carers;
– information on the Coventry Libraries Summer Reading Challenge;
– details on the Family Hub Portal;
– information on the Look for a Book initiative;
– a QR code linked to a prize draw, with one 50-pound shopping voucher.

Participation details: where to look

Staff are sharing clues, photos and short videos through Family Hub websites and social media to signal hiding locations. This means households can use ordinary outings as the moment to take part, rather than planning a separate booking session.

There is no fee, no registration and no booking required. The practical constraint is information timing: the published material does not provide a full downloadable location list or fixed route schedule for every area in advance.

What families can do now

Families can follow official Family Hub posts for fresh clues, check photos before heading out, then search in the relevant area during the campaign window. If a pack is found, it can be taken immediately. Scanning the QR code is optional and only needed for the prize draw.

The packs also include a route into the Family Hub Portal for anyone wanting follow-up reading options or other practical help after they take part.

This is a Coventry City Council announcement published on Tuesday, 4th August 2026, with participation ending on 11 September.

Source: Coventry City Council

Context & actions About this article

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The article is reconstructed only from the Coventry City Council release, with checks on dates, distribution method, pack contents and official quotes.

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