A mum and son duo from Swindon who have a shared love of reading are hiding children's books around the town for other families to enjoy over the summer holidays. 

Kerry Molson and her eight-year-old son Parker set a challenge to hide over 200 books around Swindon, which they started on Tuesday, July 30, with the aim of helping to share an act of kindness and enable children who may not have access to books to pick one up for free. 

They also run book stalls together and Kerry runs her own book club as a way for adults to make new friends and socialise, while Parker runs his own book club for children.

Kerry said: “Myself and my son Parker love going on walks together and thought it would be a fun way to make it more exciting for families.

“Reading and the benefits books bring to children and adults is a big passion of mine so when I left my job during Covid, I started my own book business to fill my son's life with books and to fulfil my dream to get books into the hands of as many children as possible.

“I've been running my business for over four years now. I started it last summer on a smaller scale and it was a big success, so this year we are going even bigger.

“Our campaign to get as many books into the community as possible this summer has only been possible thanks to the generosity of local businesses that have all donated and feel as passionately as we do about the benefits of reading for children and I can't thank them enough for their support."

So far they have been sponsored by Huntly, Let's Create Art Club, Swindon Story Shed, Ms Heron - English Tutoring and  BeAdvised Mortgage Solutions - all local businesses in the town. 

Kerry added: “It will all be brand new children's books. One company has approached me today so there could be many more.

“We'll be aiming to hide them in parks like Lydiard, Coate and Old Town Gardens but also some in unexpected places too.

"I have a group called Found It with Parkers Books on Facebook where I'll be announcing where I'll be hiding them and where people can share their photos and excitement about the book they've found and where they'll be re-hiding them."