McDonald’s has always prided itself on its ability to draw smiles on the faces of children all around the world. In fact, the Happy Meal has become a universal symbol of childhood bliss and family-centric good times for children and adults alike.

For decades, the iconic box – with its toy based on the hottest pop culture subjects of the moment and delicious mini meals – has delighted young McDonald’s fans worldwide. Most of us can at least remember one or two collections that we obsessed over as children.

To make the meal even better, McDonald’s has made a determined push over the past few years to expand the Happy Meal offering, introducing new, healthier meal options (such as apple bites) and launching the Happy Studio, the interactive mobile application developed especially for children.

Now, the brand is on a mission to continue creating wholesome, feel-good moments, by making reading more fun, accessible and cool for kids with the launch of its latest offering: the Happy Meal Readers program. A 2016 study by Scholastic, the children’s book publisher showed that only 51% of the children polled enjoyed reading.

The good news is that in the same study, most children still preferred paper books over electronic books. Countless research studies have shown us the many benefits of curling down with a book. Better memory, a bigger vocabulary, more empathy and so much more. 

The Happy Meal Readers program offers families the opportunity to choose between a toy or a book with every Happy Meal, featuring a series of 12 books created exclusively for McDonald’s by the globally renowned author and illustrator of the bestselling How to Train Your Dragon series, Cressida Cowell. The series protagonists, the Treetop Twins go on adventures that will enthrall and captivate minds and hearts and inspire them to keep on reading.

The program was designed with the ultimate aim of inspiring a lifelong passion for reading amongst the younger generations; by bringing them back to the written word and surrounding them with good stories and narratives. The books also present families with an opportunity for bonding with their younger children by reading to them.

Older children who can already read will enjoy being the narrators to their parents which fosters a sense of accomplishment and mastery. The stories are a great starting point for more stories, imaginative play and conversations for families to bond over.

According to Sherif Coutry, Senior Marketing Director at McDonald’s Kuwait, Happy Meal Readers is simply the latest step in McDonald’s ongoing efforts to develop and enhance its family offerings.

“McDonald’s has always been a passionate advocate of families, and we delight in our ability to bring families together for some feel-good quality time. With the Happy Meal Readers program, we are deepening our commitment to families, by further inspiring fun moments of family bonding and instilling a lifelong love of reading in children.” 

Coutry further added: “The Happy Meal is one our most iconic and beloved offerings, and we have always taken great pride in making great memories for children and families alike. With Happy Meal Readers, we are looking to take that very unique McDonald’s experience to the next level.” 

To find your closest McDonald’s call 1878 787. Visit www.mcdelivery.com.kw for delivery and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @mcdonaldskuwait.