Math phobia is nothing new. For centuries paren’ts and educators have been seeking ways to make math fun. Our Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books has a unique collection of math and counting books available to view in person. From silly counting rhymes to demystifying factorials, these books have found creative ways to teach math […]
From the famous Sherlock Holmes to elementary school amateurs, children's mystery fiction has a long and varied history. Stories range from lurid thrillers to charming domestic mysteries, but all these books ask and answer a simple question “whodunit?” Uncover the secrets of children's mystery and detective stories at Meddling Kids: A Children's Mystery Book Exhibit. […]
Learning the alphabet may be "as easy as ABC," but there are many creative ways to teach it. From traditional rhymes to space age adventures, alphabet books are an ever expanding genre of children's literature. Our Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books has a unique collection of alphabet books dating from the 17th century to […]
Children's book series create a special bond with their readers, a bond that is strengthened over many volumes. Series allow readers to grow up alongside their favourite characters, from Anne of Green Gables to Franklin the Turtle. Discover the charm of children's book series, new and old, at Wait! There's More: A Children's Book Series […]
Love comes in many forms, so it makes sense that there are many ways to complete TPL Reading Challenge's "a book about love (not just the romantic kind)" category. Library staff and Reading Challenge participants have shared their favourite books which explore romantic love, self-love, platonic love and more. Universal Love by Alexander Weinstein Many […]
Reading and writing are the core of most curriculums, but how students learn the basics varies. Historical children’s books can help us understand how education has changed over the centuries. Our Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books at Lillian H. Smith Branch has interesting examples of educational books and teaching aids from the 14th century […]
From celebrity memoirs to chilling dystopias, there are many ways to complete TPL Reading Challenge's "a book about fame" category. Library staff and Reading Challenge participants have shared their favourite books which explore fame, infamy and celebrity culture. Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood by Karina Longworth Karina Longworth explores Hollywood's Golden […]
Explore futuristic dystopias, parallel worlds, magical lands and more with these 11 recently published science fiction and fantasy books. We asked staff from the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy to share their favourite speculative fiction reads from the past year. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke This is a bite-sized jewel of a book. […]
In 1926, a bear named Winnie-the-Pooh walked out of the Hundred Acre Wood and into readers' hearts. But Winnie’s story began in Canada more than a decade before A. A. Milne published his first Winnie-the-Pooh book. Since the book’s publication, generations of readers around the world have enjoyed Winnie’s adventures. Our Osborne Collection of Early […]
In 1888, A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder appeared serialized in Harper’s Weekly magazine. The science fiction novel is by Canadian author James De Mille. It was published anonymously eight years after his death. Though the story doesn't takes place in Canada, it is Canada’s most celebrated 19th-century science fiction novel. Our Merril […]