Get Your Books Ready for World Book Day!
Join our World Book Day Book Collection and help send books to communities that need them most around the world!
you pack the books in boxes for collection
we collect books from your school
we sort & send them to those who need it
your book donations receive a new home
Book Donation Guidelines
Please read the requirements.
They are designed to ensure a smooth, organised, and impactful collection process.
A Willing School Community
A Collection Point
Suitable Books
Collection Commitment
Book Quantity
Library Collections
Collection Dates Near You
Full for World Book Day 2025
The next pick up is 2026
Where the books get shipped to!
Every book you donate embarks on a journey to change lives.
We carefully distribute books to places where they are needed most, ensuring they reach children, students, and communities with limited access to reading materials.
Thanks to your generosity, our books have reached 79 countries since 2003.
With your help, we aim to expand to 100 countries by 2027, ensuring more children have the opportunity to read, learn, and grow.
Schools
Orphanages
Libraries
What we accept and don't accept
Watch the video below from Kim, head librarian of the international school in Amsterdam!
yes!
- Nursery
- Primary School
- Fiction
- Informative
- Education
- Multiple Languages
no!
- Written in Text Books
- Religious
- Gun Violence
- Demon
- Erotic
- Political
- War
Do not pack...
Examples of books that we recycle because they are not relevant to children in developing countries
Jokes
Patriotic
Religious
Monsters & Demons
Damaged Books
Packaging Examples
Pack books in boxes like this!
Got ALOT? Got a big box? Fill it up!
This is the first entrance of our warehouse!
These boxes are all ready to be shipped!
We ship the books to book projects around the world
Which books do we need?
We have 5 book categories
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category C 16+
Category I
Get Inspired!
Children Receiving Books (in 79 countries)
Cambodia
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Indonesia
Ivory Coast
Rwanda
Uganda
Nepal
Tanzania
Nigeria
gambia
ZANZIBAR
HAITI
MOLDOVA
MALAWI
Sustainable Book Drives: Offsetting Our Emissions
At Read to Grow, we recognize that transporting books—from collection points to our distribution centers and finally to schools, libraries, and shelters—creates emissions. But we believe in making a positive impact in more ways than one.
To balance the environmental cost of our book drives, we actively offset our carbon footprint by planting trees. Every book drive contributes to reforestation projects, helping to absorb CO₂, restore ecosystems, and create a greener future.
This means that when you donate books, you’re not just giving the gift of education—you’re also supporting a sustainable initiative that protects the planet. Together, we can spread knowledge while ensuring a healthier world for future generations. 🌍📚🌱
Why Collecting Books Matters
Our work directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4:
Quality Education
—ensuring that every child, no matter where they are, has access to books and learning materials. By joining this initiative, your school will play a vital role in promoting literacy, fostering a love for reading, and making a lasting impact on children’s futures.
Sharing Feedback with Parents and Kids
As part of the book drive, you’ll receive feedback and updates that you can share with parents and students to show the impact of their generous donations.
Celebrating the Impact
After the collection, we’ll send details about where the books have gone and how they are helping children in need.
This will allow parents and kids to feel proud of their contributions, knowing they’ve played a part in spreading knowledge and joy. We’ll also provide stories and updates from the schools, libraries, and communities that have benefited, giving everyone a sense of the positive change they’ve helped create.
It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the collective effort and inspire further acts of kindness!
The Read to Grow Book Award 🏆
Every book donation helps change lives, and we want to recognize the schools that go above and beyond.
As a token of appreciation, we present a special statue to the school that donates the most books during our World Book Day Collection
What is the Award?
The school with highest number of books divided by the total number of students or pupils on the school wins the award. So a small school and big school have even opportunity to win the Award.
How to Win?
- Collect as many books as possible from students, families, and even your school library.
- The school with the highest number of donated books wins!
- We’ll announce the winner and present the award after the collection period.
about us
Who is Read To Grow?
A Small Idea with a Global Impact
Read to Grow started in 2003.
Founded by a British woman and a Dutch man who shared a vision: to make books accessible to those who need them most. What began as a small initiative has grown into a European organization with its headquarters in the Netherlands.
Our Mission
We believe that every child deserves the chance to read, learn, and grow. Our goal is to redistribute high-quality books to schools, libraries, orphanages, and shelters in developing countries, giving books a meaningful second life where they can truly make a difference.
Our Impact So Far
📚 Over 1 million books donated
🌍 79 countries reached
📖 1,612 book projects completed
🎯 Goal: 100 countries by 2027
How It Works
- Books are donated by individuals, schools, and libraries across Europe.
- UK books are sorted in London
- EU and USA book donations are sorted and packed in a small town called Boekel, Netherlands.
- From there, they are shipped to carefully selected education projects worldwide.
Why It Matters
Books empower communities, fuel education, and open doors to opportunity. By supporting Read to Grow, you’re not just recycling books—you’re transforming lives through the power of reading.
Join us in making education accessible to all. 📚✨
Other contacts
You can visit our European website at readtogrow.eu
Questions?
Email us about the UK book collection
Ready To Take The Next Step?
If you’re excited to participate and help spread the joy of books, simply reply to our email and ensure you’ve read through the prerequisites and we will confirm the collection date.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the book drive further, we can arrange a call with our team or chairman. We’re here to make this process smooth and impactful!