Mini-book offer helps kids stay entertained

COLES and the Sunday Mail are giving budding bookworms the chance to get their hands on a rare collectible this weekend.

Parents and kids can collect Little Treehouse’s Vegetable Patty – who teaches kids a fun way to eat vegetables – when they buy the Sunday Mail at any Coles supermarket.

The bonus rare collectable is one of 24 pocket-sized editions of the hugely popular Treehouse book series by beloved Australian children’s author Andy Griffiths and illustrator Terry Denton.

Coles research found that while 83 per cent of Australian households frequently encourage children to read, only 22 per cent frequently purchased books for kids to read. “We wanted to find an engaging and sustainable way to bring joy and hours of entertainment to Aussie households,” Coles chief marketing officer Lisa Ronson said.

Griffiths said the campaign hoped to push the limits of taste to entice children to love books during lockdown.

“Reading and enjoying books on a regular basis leads to improved literacy skills, better educational outcomes and happier children,” Griffiths said.

“It offers the chance for kids of all ages and reading abilities to build a personal library of books, no matter what the family budget might be.” Brisbane mother Alison Wood, of Wynnum, said her boys Ollie, 12, and Jack, 8, ( left) loved collecting the miniature books.

“It’s extremely essential to keep young minds filled with imagination and creativity during lockdown,” she said.

“The Little Treehouse books have been a godsend and entertaining our boys during quiet time and have even inspired Jack to write his own books.”

A limit of one bonus mini book applies per newspaper purchased at Coles supermarkets. Excludes Coles Online and Coles Express. Maximum spend is $3.