A van delivering books to pupils across the country will be visiting a Hackney primary school.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the National Literacy Trust have teamed up to give away almost 23,000 copies of Serena Patel's award-winning book, Anisha Accidental Detective to 240 primary schools, including The Olive School on St John's Church Road.
The van's six-day reading road trip, starting on December 6, will take it from Belfast to London.
It has been specially decorated by the book's illustrator Emma McCann, featuring characters from the book.
Author Serena Patel said she supported the campaign to promote reading for pleasure: "The lockdowns have been tough for everyone and so being part of such a positive, inspiring project is a massive privilege. I couldn't be prouder that Anisha will be helping encourage children to discover the excitement of reading."
The National Literacy Trust has worked with Enterprise to identify communities across the UK that will benefit from an injection of books with aims to encourage more reading among young children.
Children will be able to take books home as gifts to reinforce classroom learning.
Enterprise employees have also recorded a read-along version of the book which children can access via an online link or QR code as an added aid to help them read.
The initiative was made possible with a £128,000 donation from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation as part of the $55 million global ROAD Forward initiative that promotes social and racial equity projects across the world.
Darranda Rowswell, director of development at the National Literacy Trust, said: “Around one in 11 children from lower income families don’t have a book of their own at home.
"Reading is not just great fun, but it’s a vital skill and we want all children to love reading.
"Children and young people who enjoy reading and who read frequently are better readers, helping them to realise their fullest potential at school and in life."
Simon Caughey-Rogers, Enterprise’s corporate social responsibility and charity events manager, said: “Many of our super star employees also struggled with reading at school. Every child should get the support they need to be their best."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here