Two local bookstores have received a share of $200,000 as part of the latest Penguin Children’s Bookseller Grant round.

They are part of the 41 successful stores selected from 78 applications.

These grants will fund projects ranging from interactive reading events and storytelling festivals to partnerships with schools and libraries – all designed to make reading accessible, engaging, and fun for kids of all ages.

Edgars Books & News received a grant of $4500 to support three projects in 2026: ‘Comfort Sets’ with Wangaratta Library, ‘Go Bags’ with Centre Against Violence and ‘Transition Packs’ with Galen Catholic College.

“We see so many young readers in our store each and every week, which is wonderful, but we were really keen to help other local organisations who provide (or want to provide) books to those in need or during transition periods,” Edgars co-owner Lisbeth Long said.

“We have a close relationship with all three and we thank Penguin Random House for the opportunity to further support and help the school and these organisations to do what they do within our community and for our young people,” she said.

Each year, the Wangaratta Library provides approximately 120 ‘Comfort Sets’ to children in difficult situations, which are then distributed by Tot2Teens and St Vincent de Paul.

“The staff at the library are just as passionate as we are about helping people and finding joy within books,” Edgars co-owner Bernie Long said.

The Centre Against Violence (CAV) provides a grab and ‘go bag’, donated by Share the Dignity, which often includes toiletries and a small soft toy for children who have had to leave their homes due to domestic violence and may not have been able to take any of their own things.

“The work that CAV do locally is so important and the Go Bags in particular can provide not only essential items, but things that are somewhat normal when perhaps everything around a child has changed,” Lisbeth said.

On transition day each November, incoming year seven students at Galen Catholic College are given a book as part of their transition from primary to secondary school.

“Encouraging teens to continue to read as they reach secondary school can be a challenge but, with Galen’s program, if they don’t like the one they get, they can swap it or if they do like it, they can recommend it to someone else and then discuss it,” Bernie said.

Booktique received $4400 to train a staff member in the field of children's literature.

Owner Michelle Delle Vergin said Booktique is delighted to be among other independent booksellers that have been chosen as recipients of the Penguin Children’s Bookseller Grant.

“The teams in both our stores are passionate about children’s books, and value the importance of growing a love of literature in children of all ages,” she said.

“The grant will enable us to train one of our staff members in this field, benefitting both our Wangaratta and Albury stores.

“This opportunity does more than help us as a business, it benefits our entire community, equipping our staff with the tools to enable us to put the perfect book into the hands of the right child, at the right time.

“Reading sparks a child’s imagination and feeds their dreams, and opens the door to a world that previously did not exist to them.

“The perfect book even has the power to shape our children as individuals."