TWO mums have teamed up to pass on their love of books to children this St Valentine’s Day.

Geraldine Grandidier and Ruth Duncan will leave gift-wrapped books in waiting room at doctors’ surgeries and hospitals, hairdresser salons and cafes in an effort to spread love.

The women decided to run the project on Tuesday (February 14) to mark International Book Giving Day and St Valentine’s Day.

Mrs Grandidier founded Tidy Books in Hatherley Mews, Walthamstow, in 2004 after being unable to find a suitable children’s bookcase for her daughter.

The 48-year-old mother-of-two said: “With International Book Giving Day and Valentine’s Day being on the same day I think it is a day for the love of books really.

“There is something calming about sitting and turning the pages of a book particularly when kids have iPhones and iPads.

“There is also less of a distraction because something will not pop up on a screen and parents tell us they love to see their kids reading.

“When you get a book it opens up a whole new world and it’s always nice to get a gift.”

Mrs Duncan works at Tidy Books which makes book storage units for children.

The 46-year-old mother of two said: “There are a lot of children who miss out on having books today and it only takes one book to start them off reading.

“We thought that kids would be really excited to find a book wrapped up with a tag that says ‘open me’ in a doctor’s waiting room.

“Hopefully it will make that 20 minutes of waiting pass by a little better.”