Image Credit: Virginie Egger for the TD Summer Reading Club Kids can have misconceptions about wild animals, especially given the old wives tales that permeate pop culture. Even the picture books we read that feature talking animals who wear clothing can arguably be a missed opportunity for kids to learn about how animals actually behave. […]
“Yes. All books end.” After 25 adventures, Mo Willems announced the end to his much loved Elephant & Piggie series with The Thank You Book. No, Mo Willems — thank YOU for this wild ride. We learned that Waiting is Not Easy, to try new things (I Really Like Slop!), and that […]
Photo Credit: Emily Poisel on a CC License If we set aside our mourning for a bygone era, can’the DVD section of the library recreate the gratifying experience of browsing movies? As a kid, I loved the ritual of visiting the film rental place up my street. I witnessed that store diversify its offerings by […]
Fancy Nancy books are stupendous. (That’s a fancy word for “great.”) Once you have read through Jane O’Connor’s series, what’s next? You might have discovered Pinkalicious or the infamous Eloise already. Fear not, mon chérie, there’s more to discover. Kevin Henkes has written books in this vein, such as Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse. Chrysanthemum and Sheila Rae […]
From school time to playtime, anxiety weighs on a lot of children’s minds. Daily life can feel like a stressful chore – quite the opposite of what many people think of childhood! Photo Credit: Sebastian Wiertz on a CC License One response to this reality is Mindfulness Meditation. It is being used in both […]
March Break moviegoers may be interested to catch “The Little Prince” on film, but it’s never too late to read/reread Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s original story. Print Ebook Ebook (bilingual) Audiobook DAISY Talking Book The book has enjoyed many successful adaptations since 1943, when the young prince came tumbling down to the desert from Asteroid B-612 […]
Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day was the first full-colour, mainstream picture book to feature an African American protagonist. This book originated during the Civil Rights movement in 1962, contrasting riots and protests with an innocent and universally relatable character, Peter. The book was met with criticism over whether racial identity was accurately portrayed by […]
Don't put kids to sleep with boring author bios. Photo Credit: flickrized on a CC License All writers have a unique origin, whether they began their career as a grade five essayist or creating window displays for a toy store. There is value in young readers learning that an author is from the same city or […]
Photo Credit: Toronto Public Library Digital Archive; Boys and Girls House (1922-1963), St. George St., w. side, between College & Russell Sts. Christina Wong, Toronto Public Library staff, is passionate about collecting stories. City landmarks may change over time, but the spirit of a place is made boundless by its memories. To honour the 20th […]
Photo Credit: Zohar Manor-Abel on a CC License There is a cost associated with everything, from our fashion sense to our appetite. The Globe and Mail's Nathalie Atkinson wrote about a worthwhile subject in kids’ books: responsible consumerism. She speaks mainly about the fashion business, but extends the idea of socially conscious kids’ books to food […]