McDonald’s Replaces Happy Meal Toys With Our Favorite Childhood Books To Encourage Kids To Read
With more and more kids enslaved to the screen from as young as they can remember, the push to ensure that children are still able to get lost in a book and let their imaginations roam free is more important than ever.
Over in New Zealand, the giant fast-food chain recognizes this and has replaced the tacky plastic toys you would often find in a Happy Meal with the whimsical works of Roald Dahl, a renowned children’s author that my generation grew up on.
Image credits: McDonalds
“The Happy Meal Readers programme is all about helping parents to get their children to enjoy reading,” said Jo Mitchell, director of marketing at McDonald’s New Zealand.
“The Roald Dahl characters are ones that many parents will have enjoyed growing up, and it’s great to play a part in introducing them to a new generation.”
The scheme is a positive step to arrest declining literacy rates, especially among teenagers, in some western countries.
Image credits: McDonalds
However, it could be argued that it is parents, and not giant fast food corporations, that should be at the front line of the battle to keep kids reading. Books are available for free at your local library, so you don’t need to expand your kids’ waistlines in order to expand their minds!
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The books, which also include activities and stickers, feature extracts from Dahl classics such as The BFG, Matilda, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Because really, it would be incredibly unfair if the next generation were to miss out on these wonderfully weird adventures.
Image credits: McDonalds
Not only are these kinds of Happy Meals helping kids to stay curious, but they are better for the environment too. Gone are the tacky, cheap plastic toys that would, in most cases, go directly to the landfill or even worse, the ocean.
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Here’s what people had to say about the new happy meals
I LOVE this!! KUDOS for paving the way to removing the toy (which looses it's appeal after an hour). The most beautiful things are created through imagination. Reading more induces that imagination
Back in the 80s the toys were pretty cool. My Gma still has some that we got back in the day and my kids love to play with them! They used to be fun. Now they're cheap junk.
But I agree. Books are WAY better!!
James and the Giant Quarter Pounder
This is not only great for the kids but a million times better for the environment. Those little plastic toys are awful and get used for an hour then chucked away. Books over plastic any day!
I totally agree. Books are more environmentally- friendly. I just hope that toys be made from environmentally friendly materials than plastic.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Eating at McDonalds is terrible for the environment on its own. You’re not going to turn that around with a paper book.
I LOVE this!! KUDOS for paving the way to removing the toy (which looses it's appeal after an hour). The most beautiful things are created through imagination. Reading more induces that imagination
Back in the 80s the toys were pretty cool. My Gma still has some that we got back in the day and my kids love to play with them! They used to be fun. Now they're cheap junk.
But I agree. Books are WAY better!!
James and the Giant Quarter Pounder
This is not only great for the kids but a million times better for the environment. Those little plastic toys are awful and get used for an hour then chucked away. Books over plastic any day!
I totally agree. Books are more environmentally- friendly. I just hope that toys be made from environmentally friendly materials than plastic.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Eating at McDonalds is terrible for the environment on its own. You’re not going to turn that around with a paper book.