Free Childrens Books Inside Cheerios

Published on: October 25, 2003

Cheerios wants to encourage reading, and that is why starting in November 2003 and continuing into early 2004, families will find one of five books inside specially marked Cheerios boxes.

The free books are part of Cheerios "Spoonfuls of Stories," a broader, ongoing commitment by Cheerios to support children and reading. Cheerios is donating $500,000 to support First Book, a national nonprofit that helps get books to children who need them, bringing its total First Book contribution to $1 million over the past two years. Cheerios also is providing parents and families with information and tips to help them encourage their children to read.

Award-winning actor and best-selling children's book author John Lithgow, whose book, Marsupial Sue, is one of those available free inside Cheerios boxes, is joining First Book and Cheerios to help get books into kids' hands.

The books, all published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, will be specially sized to fit inside cereal boxes, and will include all original content and illustrations. One paperback book will be available in each specially marked Cheerios box. Families can see which book is in the box through a special cutout window on the front of the box. The best-selling titles, which are for ages 4-8, include:

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Jane Chapman: While bear hibernates, the woodland animals take refuge in his den. Find out what happens when bear wakes up! A New York Times Bestseller and winner of an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin: This Caldecott Honor Book and New York Times Bestseller tells the story of what happens when Farmer Brown's literate cows start leaving him notes. This book was named a Notable Children's Book for the Language Arts by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and as one of the American Library Association's Notable Children's Books.

Marsupial Sue by John Lithgow; illustrated by Jack E. Davis: A story about a kangaroo who decides to try out the identities of other animals - and, in the process, learns the joys of being herself. A New York Times Bestseller.

Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin written by Lloyd Moss and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman: Irresistible rhymes and illustrations provide a wonderful introduction to musical instruments and musical groups. A Caldecott Honor Book.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, and illustrated by Lois Ehlert: A favorite rhythmic, rhyming alphabet book that follows the letters of the alphabet on their climb to the top of the coconut tree - and down again. Won a Parents' Choice Award and a Children's Choice Award from the International Reading Association.

In addition to providing books to children directly inside Cheerios boxes, Cheerios is also helping to get books to children from low-income families through its donation to First Book.

Between now and spring of 2004, Cheerios will also feature a donation form and information about First Book on Cheerios.com and on approximately 25 million cereal boxes. Using the First Book donation form, consumers will be able to make their own donation to First Book; 100 percent of the funds donated by Cheerios consumers will be used to buy books. Donations will be sorted by zip code to ensure that funds contributed by Cheerios customers will purchase books for children in their own region. Even a donation of just $5 can help get two high-quality books to children who need them.

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