The event will honor 300 young readers who have completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as part of the Get Kenya Reading Initiative.
Nairobi, Kenya, October 28, 2025 – Pottermore Publishing and BookSmart powered by Worldreader today announced an exclusive Tea Party celebration to honor 300 young Reading Champions who have completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone during the Get Kenya Reading campaign. The special event will take place on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, at the Imaara Mall in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Tea Party marks the culmination of a six-month reading challenge (July–December 2025) between Pottermore Publishing and Worldreader, designed to bring the wonder of J.K. Rowling’s multi-million bestselling Harry Potter™ series to families across Kenya through BookSmart, Worldreader’s award-winning free digital reading app. This collaboration supports Worldreader’s ambitious five-year commitment to get one million families reading in Kenya by 2030.
“We are thrilled to celebrate these Reading Champions who have embarked on their magical journey with Harry Potter,” said Paula Scott, Acting Managing Director, Pottermore Publishing. “By making Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone freely accessible through BookSmart, we hope to inspire lifelong reading habits and show children across Kenya that stories have the power to transform lives.”
The exclusive Tea Party will offer families a fun, lively atmosphere celebrating the beloved characters featured throughout the Harry Potter book series. More importantly, it will honor the reading heroes who have just started their journey with the imaginative world of Harry Potter—children who committed to reading and completed Book 1 during the campaign period. Each Reading Champion will receive a paperback physical copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, donated generously by Bloomsbury Publishing (UK), with a personalized bookplate, a Reading Heroes certificate, and the inspiration to continue their literary adventures.
“Every child deserves the chance to dream, explore, and grow through stories,” said Elizabeth Wasunna Ochwa, Board Chair at Worldreader Kenya. “This celebration is about more than one book—it’s about building a joy-filled reading routine and a culture of learning that will delight families throughout their lifetime. When we put quality books in the hands of parents and children together, we unlock unlimited potential.”
Empowering Families Through Free Access to Books
The collaboration between Pottermore Publishing and Worldreader addresses a critical challenge: 80% of 10-year-olds in Kenya cannot read and understand a simple story, largely due to limited access to age-appropriate books. Through BookSmart, families can access over 2,700 quality books in English and Kiswahili at no cost, turning any smartphone into a personal library.
Research shows that just 10 minutes of reading a day with a caring adult can improve a child’s vocabulary, school readiness, empathy, and confidence. The Get Kenya Reading Initiative builds on this evidence-based approach, encouraging families to replace 10 minutes of daily social media scrolling with reading together.
“This is not a crisis of children’s motivation—it’s a crisis of access and routine,” said Rebecca Chandler Leege, CEO of Worldreader. “The earlier families begin reading with their children, the greater the lifelong impact. Through strong partnerships like this one with Pottermore Publishing, we’re helping families build joyful reading routines that unlock potential—at no cost to parents.”
About the Tea Party Celebration
- When: Saturday, December 6th, 2025 (time to be announced)
- Where: Imaara Mall, Nairobi, Kenya
- Who: 300 Reading Champions who completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone between July and December 2025
- What: A joyful celebration featuring activities, recognition of reading achievements, and a lively gathering for families who have embraced the power of reading together
Special Recognition for Reading Champions
Each of the 300 young readers who complete Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone during the campaign period will receive:
- A paperback physical copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, made possible through a generous donation from Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
- A personalized bookplate inside each book for children to customize with their name
- A Reading Heroes certificate recognizing their achievement
- Bragging rights and continued enthusiasm to read more and continue their adventures with Harry Potter and beyond
How to Access Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Families across Kenya can access Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for free on the BookSmart app until June 2026. To start reading, download BookSmart from major app stores or visit https://booksmart.world/free.
About BookSmart & Worldreader
BookSmart is Worldreader’s flagship digital reading experience for families. Since 2010, Worldreader has supported over 22 million readers in more than 110 countries, helping children thrive through the power of books. In 2023, Worldreader received the prestigious US Library of Congress International Literacy Award for its efforts to advance global literacy. For more information, visit www.worldreader.org.
About Pottermore Publishing
Pottermore Publishing is the global digital audiobook and eBook publisher of J.K. Rowling’s multi-million bestselling Harry Potter series and associated titles. Working with a global network of retail and library partners, Pottermore Publishing prioritizes accessibility, creativity, and innovation as it brings these beloved stories to life for each generation of readers and listeners to discover. For more information, visit www.pottermorepublishing.com.
About Bloomsbury Publishing
Bloomsbury Publishing is a leading independent publishing house with authors who have won the Nobel, Pulitzer, and Booker Prizes. The publisher of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in the UK and other territories, Bloomsbury is committed to supporting literacy initiatives worldwide. For more information, visit www.bloomsbury.com.
About the Get Kenya Reading Initiative
The Get Kenya Reading Initiative is a five-year campaign launched in July 2025 to inspire one million families across Kenya to read together by 2030. Led by Worldreader in collaboration with Kilifi County, Safaricom and Pottermore Publishing, the initiative provides families with free access to quality digital books, learning activities, and evidence-based literacy programs through the BookSmart app.
Media Contacts:
Worldreader Kenya
📞 +254 794 809 427
📧 info@worldreader.org
🌐 www.worldreader.org
