More than 1.32 million books have been sent to school children in quake-hit Sichuan Province as of Sunday as gifts for the Children's Day which falls on Monday.

The books were donated by foundations and publishing houses under the call made earlier this month by five central government departments including the Ministry of Education and the General Administration of Press and Publication.

The books were valued at 18.54 million yuan (US$2.72 million), said organizers.

A total of 2.75 million children's books were expected to be donated to quake regions.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2009)