McDonald's are getting rid of toys in children's Happy Meals

McDonald's have made the decision to remove the iconic toy from their children's happy meal.

If you are celebrating because you think it means you might never have to buy your children chicken nuggets while tackling some Saturday shopping ever again, don't get too excited as the change is only for a limited time.

For two weeks between 2nd February and 15th February, the plastic toys will be replaced by a short book in honour of World Book Day, which takes place on 3rd March 2016.

The mini-paperbacks, which have been selected to feature in the new boxes, are all Valentine's Day themed.

Including Clark The Shark Takes Heart by Bruce Hale, Happy Valentine's Day Mouse by Laura Numeroff and Pete The Cat by Kimberly and James Dean.

As well as the classic title Paddington to complete the set of four – which was made into a children's film in 2014, and originally penned by Michael Bond in 1958.

This is not the first time the American fast food giants have switched their toys for educational materials, the World Book Day campaign took place in 2013 and 2015 as well.

McDonald's began to tease the re-launch of mini-paperbacks on 1st February, promising parents who had previously applauded the books on the official Twitter account promising them 'a little surprise'.

The books will replace the toys, which have recently included Nerf guns, Pokemon cards and Star Wards-themed memorabilia.

The Happy Meal toy was first introduced in 1979 after the practice of adding a weekly 'treat of the week' in Canadian restaurants caught on.

In 2010 a lawsuit in California tried to ban the toys as part of a move to make the choice seem less appealing to young people.

In Chile, the toy has been banned for good as part of a move to curb obesity and discourage children from eating McDonald's food.