Running throughout July during the school holidays and National Pyjama Month, the QBD Books and Penguin Random House Australia-backed initiative will see all 93 QBD Books stores across Australia come together to raise funds and awareness for children living in foster care.
At the heart of this year’s campaign is a simple idea: just like a garden, a love of reading grows when it’s nurtured.
For every participating Penguin Kids title sold as part of QBD Books’ Buy One Get One Half Price promotion, Penguin Random House Australia will donate $1 to The Pyjama Foundation.
Customers will also be able to purchase exclusive Grow into a Reader seed packets, with all proceeds supporting The Pyjama Foundation’s mentoring and literacy programs.
The seed packets serve as a symbol of the campaign’s mission: planting the seeds of imagination, curiosity and confidence that can help a child become a lifelong reader.
Founder and CEO of The Pyjama Foundation, Bronwyn Sheehan OAM, says the campaign continues to play an important role in supporting vulnerable children.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and dream big.
“The support from QBD Books, Penguin Random House Australia and their customers help us provide mentoring, literacy support and positive role models for children in foster care.
“We’re incredibly grateful to see this partnership continue to grow and help change lives through the power of reading.”
QBD Books CEO Nick Croydon says reading has the power to transform lives.
“Every great reader starts somewhere. Sometimes it’s a bedtime story, a favourite picture book, or a book that sparks a child’s imagination for the very first time,” Croyydon says.
“This campaign is about planting those first seeds. Reading opens doors to learning, confidence and opportunity, and we’re proud to be helping more young Australians discover the joy of books while supporting the incredible work of The Pyjama Foundation.”
Julie Burland, CEO of Penguin Random House Australia and New Zealand, says the initiative reflects the publisher’s commitment to literacy and access to books.
“ Over the past two years, the Grow into a Reader campaign has helped raise vital funds for children in foster care.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with QBD and The Pyjama Foundation for a third year to help young Australians discover stories to spark a lifelong love of reading.”
To help raise awareness, QBD Books team members across all 93 stores will participate in National Pyjama Day celebrations on July 24, swapping their uniforms for pyjamas and helping spark conversations about the importance of literacy and educational support for children in care.
Since 2004, The Pyjama Foundation has worked to break the cycle of disadvantage experienced by children in foster care through its Love of Learning Program, which matches volunteer Pyjama Angels with children to provide one-on-one mentoring, literacy support and encouragement.
Tristan Bancks, Author & PJ Foundation Partner says more than ever, we need great human stories to sweep us away into another world, but also to help us understand our own. The Pyjama Foundation believes in stories and the right to literacy for every child, so buy a Penguin today!” -.
The Pyjama Foundation was founded in 2004 to give children in foster care the opportunity to change the direction of their lives through learning, life skills and confidence.
Through its Love of Learning Program, volunteer Pyjama Angels spend one hour each week with a child, helping improve literacy, numeracy and educational outcomes.
