Books being hidden in Devon

Newton Abbot Mum starts Facebook group.

Nearly 3,500 people have joined a new social media craze, to encourage children to read more. 

Devon Hidden Books was created by Katy Steele on Facebook just over a week ago, and thousands have joined. 

The idea is children hide a book in a plastic bag with a note attached. Whoever finds the book, reads it, adds to the note and re-hides it for another child. 

Katy says she heard of a man doing something similar in Cambridge and wanted to bring it to Devon. 

Speaking to Radio Exe, she said "Children spend so much time on ipads and electronic devices...and it's just so heartwarming and so wonderful to see kids, reading stories and finding them and being so excited". 

Members of the group have also come up with more ideas. Some are colouring a page of a colouring book and hiding the rest for someone else to complete. Others have started writing a story for other children to finish. 

People on the county in holiday have shared their joy of finding a book, having never heard of a scheme like this. Katy says: "The imagination is such a powerful tool and to try and instill this in our children is an amazing thing."

One member of the group shared a poem written by her husband which they plan to include with their hidden books:

Here is a book that I have read, 
Take it home, read it in bed. 
It was left here for a girl or boy, 
Anyone to who it’ll bring joy. 
I hope you love it as much as me, 
Go on take it, it’s here for free. 
And please when you’re done, 
Allow someone else to have some fun, 
Pop it in a bag, leave it someplace, 
And bring a smile to another child’s face.