Look 4 a Book fosters love for reading in Canberra

It's a whimsical idea that had its origins in the United Kingdom, with the group, Look 4 a Book, a kind of literary hide-and-seek, encouraging a love of reading.

Books, placed in a plastic bag, are left in parks, playgrounds, anywhere out in the public. They have a note attached from the hider and the seeker has the option to post to the Look 4 a Book Australia Facebook group to show they have found it. The person who found the book can then hide it again when they have read it.

Maci's mum, Amy Hingston, said in the short time they have been placing their books, one hidden in Canberra had ended up in Perth and some copies of the same book - namely Five in a Bed and Beauty and the Beast - had been hidden and found five times by different people.

Maci, also with help from siblings Taryn, 15, and Zander, 11, has so far hidden more than 120 books.

"Maci loves how happy finding a book makes others and she enjoys all the playtime that goes with it," Amy said.

"We think it's a cute idea. And it's another way to get kids off screens."

Amy started the Australian arm of Look 4 a Book initially to get Maci out and about. The little girl, from Jacka, suffers from a range of allergies including the relatively unknown Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES), which affects the immune system.

Amy wanted to keep her daughter close to monitor her allergies but also get her out socialising with other children.

"This has really helped us," she said.

Look 4 a Book was started this year in the UK by Dave Judge and his partner Claire Tate to help stave off her daughter's boredom during the summer holidays. There were now groups around the world.

"It's good to see the joy and smile on kids' faces when they hide and find a book," Dave told BBC radio this week.

"[The books are hidden] on trees, park benches, park slides, bushes, front doorsteps. Anywhere, really."

Books are placed in a zip-lock bag. Labels can be printed out from the Facebook page put on the books telling them who it was from and what to do next.

Amy said they needed more hiders of books to satisfy more seekers.

"We're all about creating a global community with this," Amy said.