HBG Invests $200K in Raising Readers Campaign

Hachette Book Group has announced a $200,000 investment to its Raising Readers campaign, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of parent company Hachette Livre.

As part of the campaign, HBG’s 2026 philanthropic initiatives include providing curated classroom libraries to 200 underfunded schools and education programs in confirmed book deserts; mobilizing at least 200 volunteers to deliver reading and literacy support; launching a minimum of 200 Little Free Libraries in book deserts with committed replenishment throughout 2026; and 200 author visits to classrooms for author sessions and read-alouds.

Aside from these initiatives, HBG will also invest in evidence-based literacy programs, encompassing structured tutoring, classroom literacy coaching, family literacy, community library rebuilds, and community library rebuilds.

Originally launched in December 2024, HBG’s Raising Readers campaign strives to raise awareness of the “decline in the number of children reading for fun and encourages everyone to make reading for enjoyment part of children’s daily lives,” per the publisher.

“In 2026, we aim to take Raising Readers to the next level,“ HBG CEO David Shelley said in a statement. “2026 serendipitously marks the 200th anniversary of Hachette Livre. Milestones like this are often celebrated internally, but given the urgency of the reading crisis, I believe the most meaningful way to mark the bicentenary is to invest more deeply in Raising Readers.”