MINNEAPOLIS, MN – This fall, Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks is launching Snacks & Stories, a book redemption program in partnership with Penguin Random House to celebrate culture, family and community by making it easier for families everywhere to fill their home with multicultural stories they can read together. Through May 2024 families who purchase one box of Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks and redeem their receipt by July 2024 can receive one of 16 children’s books. Families may get up to 16 children’s books that celebrate multiculturalism with qualifying purchases.
With nearly 45% of children in the U.S. living in book deserts with limited access to books*, the Mott’s Snacks & Stories program helps make it easier for families to expand their home libraries.
“We know the stories we read shape who we become as adults, and Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks wants to help families encourage reading and ensure kids have book access where it’s needed the most,” said Stephanie Lensing, Brand Experience Manager for Fruit Snacks at General Mills. “Through Mott’s Snacks & Stories, we’re offering families the opportunity to expose their children to a larger library of stories that offer diverse perspectives and experiences, expanding their ability to relate to themselves and others.”
To further support access to children’s books, Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks has teamed up with Eva Longoria to launch the Mott’s Snacks & Stories Mobile Library. After an initial launch in Los Angeles the Mobile Library is now traveling to book deserts across the U.S. sharing stories and encouraging reading. Upcoming stops include Kansas City, Kansas (October 25 and 26); and Chicago, Illinois (November 6 and 7). Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the bus, enjoy Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks, read the 16 stories in the Mott’s Snacks & Stories collection and even take home a copy of their favorite book for free, while supplies last.
“As a mother and storyteller, I understand the importance of providing access to books and sharing multicultural stories with our kids,” said Longoria. “I’m proud to partner with Mott’s on Snacks & Stories to spotlight stories that give kids everywhere the chance to see themselves represented.”
Many of the books featured in this year’s Mott’s Snacks & Stories library uplift the voices of the Hispanic community. Only 7% of children’s and young adult’s books had significant Latine/x content according to books received by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center in 2022**, meaning oftentimes, there is a crossover between the lack of access and lack of representation.
To learn more about how to get your own free books from Mott’s Snacks & Stories, visit MottsStories.com and follow Mott’s on social at Facebook and Instagram. Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks must be purchased by 5/31/2024 and redeemed by 7/31/2024. Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks can be purchased at retailers nationwide.
*According to the American Federation of Teachers
**Data accessed on 09/01/2023 by Edelman using the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison Diversity Statistics found at: https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/literature-resources/ccbc-diversity-statistics/books-by-about-poc-fnn/
General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to drive shareholder value by boldly building its brands, relentlessly innovating, unleashing its scale and standing for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Totino’s, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2023 net sales of U.S. $20.1 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion.
