SEATTLE, WASHINGTON and NAIROBI, KENYA, March 23, 2026 – Worldreader, a global tech nonprofit on a mission to get families reading, and Pottermore Publishing, the global digital publisher of Harry Potter and associated titles, have announced a new set of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Reading Challenges in 2026. This collaboration further amplifies the Get Kenya Reading initiative.
The partnership, which began in 2025, highlighted the universality of the Harry Potter series and its appeal to children in Kenya. In its inaugural year, the collaboration introduced the magic of Harry Potter™ to Worldreader’s digital library, culminating in a “Reading Champions” Tea Party in Nairobi in honor of those who completed the first book.
“The enthusiasm we’ve seen for Harry Potter in Kenya has been truly spellbinding,” said Rebecca Chandler Leege, CEO of Worldreader. “Seeing the way Kenyan children have embraced the story of Harry Potter — a story of courage, resilience, and friendship — proves that great stories know no borders.”
“We are delighted to bring the magic of Harry Potter to even more readers across Kenya,” said Paula Scott, Managing Director, Pottermore Publishing. “Seeing the passion and dedication of the young Reading Champions in Kenya has been a highlight of our collaboration, and we look forward to inspiring many more young minds through these digital Reading Challenges.”
Addressing the Literacy Crisis with Innovation
At the heart of this initiative is BookSmart, powered by Worldreader. This digital solution serves as the primary engine for the Get Kenya Reading campaign, a five-year movement launched by Worldreader in July 2025 with the goal of inspiring one million families to read together by 2030. Key to this effort is Worldreader’s strategic partnership with Safaricom. By integrating BookSmart into the M-PESA App, millions of Kenyan families can access over 2,700 quality books in English and Kiswahili.
Families can start their reading journey today by visiting booksmart.worldreader.org or by accessing the BookSmart mini-app within the Safaricom M-PESA App.
About Worldreader
“Share a story, shape a life.”
Worldreader is a global tech nonprofit on a mission to get families reading. By supporting parents and caregivers with free and accessible digital tools and resources, we build reading routines that improve the learning outcomes and social-emotional skills of children in underserved communities around the globe. With more than 15 years of experience designing, testing, and scaling evidence-based, adaptive approaches to family reading, Worldreader understands what it takes to address the global literacy crisis. Our work is grounded in research, shaped by local context, and delivered through trusted partnerships and platforms. By investing early in parent and caregiver-led reading today, Worldreader helps lay the foundation for tangible economic and social gains tomorrow – for children, their families and their communities. 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.
Media Contacts:
Worldreader Kenya
📞 +254 794 809 427
📧 info@worldreader.org
🌐 www.worldreader.org
