McDonald's Is Updating the Happy Meal in a Major Way as the School Year Starts

McDonald's is introducing a special change that might make you more inclined to stop by with your kids. In honor of National Literacy Month this September, the fast food company will be replacing the toys in its Happy Meals with classic children's books. The meaningful update is born out of a partnership with HarperCollins Publishers, as McDonald's will be offering four books from the storied publishing company.

According to a press statement, McDonald's plans on distributing a whopping 20 million books for the nearly month-long promotion. The four titles being offered are Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School, Pete the Cat's Got Class, Just A School Project, and If You Take a Mouse to School. It should come as no surprise that all of these books are also thematically tied to the start of the school year.

McDonald's and HarperCollins have previously partnered in the past on similar Happy Meals. In a statement, the president and publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, Suzanne Murphy, said, "HarperCollins is pleased to be part of McDonald's Happy Meal Books promotion again this year to place beloved books in the hands of millions of children." She added, "We hope to make book ownership for children more accessible."

McDonald's will be offering the literary Happy Meals from Sept. 5 until Sept. 18. Most books will be available in English, however, select locations will offer versions in Spanish.