In October 2022 award-winning picture book author and Read for Good Ambassador, Lu Fraser sent the final “Bundle of Wonderful”, drawing a year of quarterly bespoke book donations to a magical close.
Lu Fraser became a Read for Good Ambassador in November 2021, and shortly after, launched the “Bundle of Wonderful” project. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Lu Fraser called upon a range of highly-regarded authors and illustrators to join her in each gifting a few copies of their books towards the donation, which cumulatively helped Read for Good gift beautiful books to children in hospitals and other settings in need.
Thanks to the deep generosity of more than 40 authors and illustrators, four seasonal collections were created, each comprising around 20-30 brand-new books to be treasured (many, signed with messages of support and well-wishes). In total, “Bundle of Wonderful” facilitated the gift of more than 100 high-quality books to children who need them.
Read for Good’s hospital programme provides brand-new books, coupled with professional storyteller sessions for children in 30 hospitals across the UK. It is important that these books are new because of strict infection guidelines in hospital. Equally significant is how a choice of beautiful new titles brings a true bookshop experience to children who have very little control over their world.
With huge thanks to Lu Fraser for pioneering this impactful initiative in support of Read for Good. Read about Lu’s work as a Read for Good ambassador here.
With grateful thanks to the authors and illustrators who contributed to “Bundle of Wonderful” this year: Paddy Donelly, Serena Patel, Catherine Jacob, Caroline Crowe, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Rikin Parekh, Clare Helen Welsh, Marie Basting, Helen Baugh, Frances Tosdevin, Zoë Armstrong, Lucy Rowland, Dashe Roberts, Julie Pike, Catherine Emmett, Caryl Hart, Ben Mantle, Rachel Morrisroe, Asa Gilland, Ella Okstad, Sarah Warburton, Sarah Massini, Donna David, Nicola Penfold, David Tazzyman, Wendy Shurety, Emma Read, Nicola O’Byrne, Tom Knight, Rosalind Beardshaw, Ruth Doyle, Laura Hughes, Lucy Van Smit, S J Wills, Sophie Kirtley, Emma Perry, Deborah Allwright, Flavia Sorrentino, Mike Byrne, Jess Pauwels, Shelly Laslo, Sophia O’Connor, Jenny Løvlie.
If you would like to donate new books to help Read for Good brighten children’s days, and futures, we’d love for you to get in touch, just email Cherry or Jonathan at reading@readforgood.org.