Thousands of free books will be given away across South Yorkshire this weekend as part of an effort to boost children's reading, after research found the region has one of the lowest rates of book ownership in the UK. Volunteers will hand out 4,000 books in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield on Saturday 22 August as part of the Festival of Reading, with South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard saying he wants "every kid in our region to know that books, stories and reading are for them."

The National Literacy Trust found only 85.3% of respondents in Yorkshire and the Humber had a book of their own at home, well below areas such as London, though reading enjoyment in the region has risen for the first time in five years, with over a third of 8-18 year-olds saying they enjoy reading in their free time. The books, donated by publishers and businesses, will be given out alongside story times, reading trails and workshops at events in each city, and the mayor has also launched a Little Big Book Club as part of the wider National Year of Reading in 2026.