Amazon UK kicks off the National Year of Reading with a fireside chat with author and Year of Reading ambassador Joe Wicks (L-R, John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager, Joe Wicks, Jessica Farrugia, Amazon Books PR Lead, Katie McQuaid, Director, EU Books)Page overview
The Ministry of Stories, a recipient of the Amazon Literary Partnership grant, inspires children through storytelling as an adventureThrough our book donation campaign via local product donation hubs, Amazon will be donating tens of thousands of books to communities that need them. We will also be working with local communities across the UK to deploy a team of ‘Literacy Volunteers’ into local schools to share the joy of reading and inspire young readers in schools and communities nationwide throughout the year.
A team of Amazon employees at DSA7 packing and sorting thousands of books to donate directly to children in local communities"We are committed to connecting customers with reading, supporting author success, and advancing innovations that enhance the reading experience," said Lisa de Meyer, Amazon Books UK Country Manager. "With our diverse selection of authors and books, and extensive ways of reading, we have something to delight, inspire, and educate everyone.”
“We're proud to support the National Year of Reading and help more people across the UK discover books they'll love."
Author and health & wellbeing figure Joe Wicks, who has been named as an ambassador for the Year of Reading, said: “As a dad of four young kids, I've rediscovered the joy of reading through them, and I really value that time of day when I can sit down with them, phone free, and read them a bedtime story. I didn't grow up in a household with books, and I now find reading such an important part of my relaxation and unplugging at the end of the day. I'm so proud to be an ambassador and supporter of Year of Reading, alongside Amazon, who play an important role in connecting me with my readers.”
Author LJ RossBestselling author LJ Ross said: “Books have always been one of my greatest loves, and a lifetime spent getting lost in the pages of so many wonderful stories has made me into the writer I am today. Amazon has played a significant part in my journey to becoming a published author, and I’m so proud that Amazon will be joining the efforts to ‘go all in’ this year for the Year of Reading. After all, the world would be a much darker place without the joy of reading.”
APub Author Amanda ProwseAmazon Publishing author Amanda Prowse said: “I can’t imagine not having stories to dive into, they alleviate my loneliness and help me make sense of my world! Amazon has helped my books reach people who often don’t consider themselves ‘readers’ – who are sometimes isolated, living remotely, and being able to click and read on their phone, computer and Kindle means they too have access to the life-changing world of books and for them, like me, it’s a life changer."
Throughout 2026, Amazon will engage customers through curated booklists on Amazon.co.uk and author reading recommendations. With millions of titles available across print, eBooks, and audiobooks, customers enjoy fast delivery, personalized recommendations, and innovative Kindle features. Amazon makes reading accessible and affordable through competitive pricing, Kindle Unlimited subscriptions, Prime benefits, and preowned options.
Visit our National Year of Reading landing page to explore curated booklists, find reading recommendations, and learn more about how Amazon is supporting readers across the UK.
