Tag: book giveaway

Some Good and Some Bad all at Once

John Guillen31 Comments

I’ve written before about McDonald’s giving away books in their Happy Meals, and now they’re doing it again. This time in the UK. So now you know the good. But there’s also some bad.

The books are some of Roald Dahl’s most beloved titles. Not the full books, but short excerpts. So why do I think this is bad? Well Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one of the worst books I’ve ever read all the way through. It was terrible. I’m not ashamed to say that I pretty much hated every part of it. And now 14 million kids will be reading his words over the next six weeks.

Why not throw in some Potter excerpts? Rowling would have been my choice if it were up to me. But of course I have no say in the matter. Props to McDonald’s for once again promoting literacy, but I really wish they’d have picked another author. Oh well.

What do you think of another book giveaway by McDonald’s? Or more importantly, what do you think of Dahl’s work?

On this day in 2014 I published Read a Banned Book This Week.

 

Books in Happy Meals? McDonald’s Says yes

John Guillen23 Comments

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Do you live in Utah, western Wyoming, or eastern Nevada? Yes? Do you happen to have a child who likes McDonald’s Happy Meals? Yes again? Well I have news for you! McDonald’s, for the second consecutive year, is giving out children’s books in Happy Meals! You can say whatever you want about the food or the service or whatever, but there’s nothing negative to be said about this program, except to ask how come it isn’t happening nationwide.

Last year McDonald’s gave away, wait for it…17 MILLION books during a two-week period! *insert any happy emoji here* That’s insane. INSANE! That’s a lot of books in the hands of a lot of children. And who doesn’t like Happy Meals to begin with? I remember the four piece chicken nugget with the toy and the drink. I bet you do too.

If you live within the area of this program, then you better get out to your local McDonald’s and buy a Happy Meal. Cause you probably have kids. If not, maybe you have a small appetite and a Happy Meal is a sufficient amount of food for you. I don’t know. Just participate. The giveaway lasts from January 9-22. So you still have time! Go get some children’s books!

The four books that are being given away are If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, Big Nate: In a Class by Himself, Pete the Cat and his Magic Sunglasses, and Flat Stanley Goes Camping. All books will come with a related activity book. Now go.