Christmas is a season of warmth, connection, and generosity - an ideal time to help children discover the joy of giving. For families with primary-school-aged children, book-based giving initiatives are a wonderful way to nurture empathy, build community spirit, and celebrate themagic of reading. Whether you organise something small from home or collaborate with your school or neighbourhood, these ideas show children how meaningful itcan be to share stories with others.
Christmas is a season of warmth, connection, and generosity - an ideal time to help children discover the joy of giving. For families with primary-school-aged children, book-based giving initiatives are a wonderful way to nurture empathy, build community spirit, and celebrate themagic of reading. Whether you organise something small from home or collaborate with your school or neighbourhood, these ideas show children how meaningful itcan be to share stories with others.
Create a Free Library
Setting up a simple ‘little library’ at the front of your home, in your building’s lobby, or at your child’s school encourages children to pass on books they’ve enjoyed. A cardboard box decorated with festive wrapping paper or a weather-proof crate can be all you need. Let your child help decide which books to include, write labels, or create a sign inviting others to borrow and return titles.
For the givers, this builds pride and ownership - children realise their books still have life beyond their own shelves. For receivers, it offers access to new stories at no cost, encouraging more reading at home.
Host a Christmas Book Sale or Swap
A small book sale or swap can be a fun pre-holiday activity. Children can donate gently used books, choose prices, or help run a stall at a school fair or community event. Money raised could go toward a literacy charity or to purchasing new books for the school library.
Children who give learn about teamwork, fundraising, and thinking beyond themselves. Children who receive - whether through buying affordable books or swapping - get the excitement of new stories without financial barriers.
Donate Books to CharityShops, Shelters, or Hospitals
Many families use Christmas as a time to declutter. This is a great moment to sort through books together and choose which ones could be passed on. Explain where the books will go and who might enjoy them next: a child spending Christmas in hospital, a parent choosing gifts in a charity shop, or a family in a refuge looking for comforting bedtime stories.
Giving helps children practise generosity and understand real-world impact.Receiving books brings comfort, learning opportunities, and a sense of being remembered during the holiday season.
Make Book Packs for Local Families
Create little book ‘bundles’ with a story, a handmade bookmark, or a small note from your child. You can distribute these to community centres, food banks, or school wellbeing teams. Delivering in-person will give your child the real Santa feeling of good-will.
These simple initiatives show children that stories are powerful gifts - ones that build connection, kindness, and joy for both giver and receiver.