A box of more than 100 Travelling Books delivered to Tawhero School last week was greeted with cheers and squeals from a dozen young children and their parents.
The national Travelling Books Project has been a popular way of reminding New Zealanders about the importance of literacy, especially with deliveries being
made to schools throughout New Zealand.
Tawhero Principal Chris Dibben said it was great for those who love reading and encourages everyone to read more.
"We have the books set up in our community room and the kids and their parents can sit around and read them. They can take them home to read as well.
"The books are a trust issue.
"You can take them home but you must being them back for others."
The free new books handed out will all have a request with them that readers must pass them on to be read by someone else when they have finished them.
Earlier, Victoria Campbell of Whanganui Learning Centre said the books were distributed to various locations with some being handed out to passersby on Victoria Ave as well.
Travelling Books gives all New Zealanders who might not always get the chance to access books to be able to get them and read for free, Mr Dibben said.
At Tawhero School the children were so excited as the books were spilled out on to a large table in the school library, they couldn't decided which one they loved best.
One small boy decided he had six "best books".
A little girl said that wasn't how it worked, that he had to choose one.
Mr Dibben said the school was very grateful to the Whanganui Learning Centre for sending the books in.
"They are very loved."
