The UK government announced up to £15 million for a book-gifting programme aimed at giving up to 300,000 more pre-school children across England access to books before they start school, according to a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport press release published on 5 November 2026. The department said the Budget measure would focus on early years, building confidence and communication, and would be delivered by Arts Council England. Further details on the programme's design are to be published later.

The announcement cited the work of book-giving charities, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library UK and BookTrust. The release said the Imagination Library has gifted almost 8 million free books to children under five since launching in 2007, with nearly 100,000 children receiving a book monthly, while BookTrust reaches over 1.4 million children annually. It also pointed to around 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs being rolled out and to £12.5 million in dormant assets funding intended to ensure every primary school in England has a library by the end of this Parliament.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Early Education Minister Paul Waugh welcomed the investment in comments carried in the release.