Donating Children’s Books to The Children’s Book Project
Yes, you can donate children’s books through a normal free collection. Board books, picture books, first readers and teen fiction all go in with the rest of your book donation, and we pick them up from your doorstep. We regularly pass children’s books on to The Children’s Book Project, a charity working to end book poverty. You don’t need to be in.
- Free
- Board books to teen fiction
- No need to be in
- Most read again
Our partner
The Children’s Book Project
At Anglo Doorstep Collections, we collect a range of items, one of which is children’s books. We are proud to partner with The Children’s Book Project. This registered charity works with schools, nurseries, and other community settings across the UK. They then redistribute thousands of new and gently used books to children and their families.
Their mission is simple but powerful. To reduce book poverty and ensure every child has the opportunity to read, regardless of their background.
From our van to their shelves
Our Support
We made a special trip to their London branch, and we have now donated children’s books to the Children’s Book Project. Upon arrival, we worked closely with their dedicated volunteers to unload the books. Which will now go on to make a difference in the lives of countless children. The process is swift, within just a week, their fantastic team sorts, categorises, and prepares the books for distribution to their new owners.
These books, filled with adventure, knowledge, and imagination, are sent to schools, nurseries, and other educational settings nationwide. The books donated in September went to schools around South West and South East London.
Thanks to this collaboration, the books we donate reach children who may not have access to reading material at home. It’s more than just a donation. It is about creating opportunities, fostering a love of learning, and giving children the tools they need to succeed.
We’re thrilled to support The Children’s Book Project’s efforts. We look forward to continuing our work together to help bridge the literacy gap across the UK. To read more about them click here.
Book poverty in numbers
Why outgrown children’s books matter
A book your child has finished with could be the first book another child owns. The National Literacy Trust’s research shows how many children grow up without one.
Source: National Literacy Trust.
What to give
What children’s books can I donate?
Children’s books of every age are welcome, from a baby’s first board book to the teen series your child has finished. The simple test: if another child could open it tomorrow and enjoy it as if it were new, we’ll take it.
- Board books and cloth books for babies and toddlers
- Picture books, including lift-the-flap books with the flaps intact
- First readers and reading-scheme books
- Chapter books and children’s fiction series
- Children’s non-fiction: atlases, nature books and encyclopedias
- Teen and young adult fiction
- Children’s audiobooks on CD and children’s films on DVD
Good, like-new condition
Books should not be marked, stamped or drawn in. A softened spine is fine. Scribbles, coloured-in pages and missing pages are not.
Grown-up books too
Adult fiction, cookbooks and textbooks can go in the same collection. The full list is on what books can I donate?
Please leave out
A few children’s books we can’t take
Drawn in, torn or chewed
Young readers are hard on books. Scribbled pages, ripped covers, chewed board books and missing pages mean a book can’t be passed on.
Instead: paper books can go in your household paper recycling. Check your council’s rules first.
Used activity and sticker books
Once the stickers are stuck and the puzzles are filled in, there’s nothing left for the next child to do.
Instead: unused ones are welcome. Finished ones can go in paper recycling.
Comics and children’s magazines
We don’t collect comics or magazines of any kind, including children’s titles.
Instead: pass them to a friend or family member, or put them in your paper recycling.
Library books and anything stamped by a school can’t go in either. Everything else we can and can’t take is on what we collect.
Packing up
How to donate children’s books, step by step
Book online
Enter your postcode, pick a collection date and choose the charity you’d like to support. It’s free.
Sort by the simple test
Clean, complete and not drawn in goes in the box. Flick through picture books for crayon marks before you pack them.
Pack boxes a driver can lift
Books get heavy fast, so smaller boxes or strong bags are best. Board books and paperbacks can go in together.
Leave them out by 7am
On the doorstep, in the porch, or wherever you told us when you booked. You don’t need to be at home. The evening before, we email you an estimated arrival window and a link to follow the driver on the day.
The full walk-through is on how do I donate my books?
Afterwards
Where do children’s books go?
Back to our warehouse, where every box is opened and sorted by hand. Most of the books we collect stay in the UK and are rehomed to readers who will enjoy them, and many of the children’s books go on to The Children’s Book Project. Books that can’t be read again are pulped and made into recycled paper, which is far better than the tip.
Our own estimate is that every kilo of books read again, instead of printed new, saves around 1 kg of CO2e. See roughly what your clear-out could save on the green calculator, and why it matters on how donating books helps the planet.
Follow the whole journey on what happens to my books?, meet the readers on who do my books help?, and read why old books shouldn’t go in the bin.
To help support the wonderful work that The Children’s Book Project does you can book a collection with us today. Donate your children’s books alongside all the other donations we accept (minimum 1 full bag of donations).
With the help of our amazing customers who donate their unwanted clothes, household items, and children’s books. We can donate large quantities to incredible charities like the Children’s Book Project.
Questions
Questions parents ask about children’s books
Do I need to be at home?
No. Leave your books out by 7am where you told us when you booked, and the driver collects them while you get on with your day.
Will my children’s books go to The Children’s Book Project?
Many of them will. Every box is sorted by hand first, and we regularly pass children’s books on to The Children’s Book Project. Others are rehomed to readers elsewhere in the UK.
Which charity does my donation support?
The one you choose when you book, such as Action for Children, Together for Short Lives, Advance or the RSPCA. A large percentage of the proceeds goes to your chosen cause.
Can I mix children’s books with adults’ books?
Yes. One booking covers the whole household’s clear-out, and outgrown toys and clothes can go in the same collection. See what we collect.
My child has written their name inside. Is that OK?
Please leave out books that are marked, stamped or drawn in. Another child should be able to open the book as if it were new.
Can our school or nursery book a collection?
We can only collect from homes, not from schools, nurseries, libraries or charity shops.
How many boxes can I put out?
As many as you have from a normal clear-out, packed in boxes or bags a driver can lift on their own. If you have more than 20 bags or boxes, tell us when you book so we can make sure the van has room.
Can I book a collection for tomorrow?
If we are collecting near you tomorrow, yes. Tomorrow’s collections stay open until 4pm today. Enter your postcode on the booking page to see your dates.
More answers are on our frequently asked questions page.
Ready to donate your books?
It’s free, you don’t need to be at home, and you choose the charity your donation supports.