A Dublin-based publisher distributed more than 200 free books across the capital to encourage more children to read.
Copies of The Most Beautiful Letter in the Worldwritten by Fair Cityactor Karl O'Neill were left on buses, the Dart, school playgrounds, park benches and libraries throughout the city.
The O'Brien Press is the first publisher in Ireland to embrace the 'book crossing' craze to promote its titles.
The phenomenon began in the US in 2001 by people who wanted to share books they had enjoyed. Bestsellers such as The Da Vinci Codeand To Kill A Mocking Birdwere some of the first titles to be left in public places for grateful readers to read and then distribute again.
The website www.bookcrossing.comhas 603,449 members in over 130 countries who share their passion for books with the world.
A spokesperson for the O'Brien Press said: "We hope to encourage young readers to take up the book and read it for free. It is part of a new marketing strategy we are testing at the moment."
The Most Beautiful Letter In The Worldtells the story of a little girl called Poppy who finds a magic letter in a park in a red envelope marked 'To You'. The letter has a life-changing effect on whoever reads it.
The book was originally written by Karl O'Neill as a gift for his niece's ninth birthday. O'Neill is currently in rehearsals with the Lyric Theatre in Belfast where he is playing the lead role in the Wizard of Ozfor Christmas. He plays Tim Carney in the RTE soap Fair City.
PA