Everything seems to be going wrong in Isaveth Breck’s life. Her mother is dead, her father is arrested for murder, and her older sister barely makes enough money at the factory to feed Isaveth and her two little sisters. But resourceful Isaveth, who has a talent for cooking magic spell-tablets and a strong sense […]
In Please, Open this Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt, the manic monkeys from Warning: Do Not Open This Book (2013) return with a new set of demands. This time around, the animals beg readers to leave the book open, so they won’t be trapped inside. Mayhem ensues when pages are turned, including such sorry sights […]
Are you planning a trip, or just dreaming of one? The Humanities and Social Sciences Department, on the 2nd Floor of the Toronto Reference Library, maintains a variety of current and historical travel magazines that you might find of interest. Many of these magazine's initial issues of 2016 are devoted to the best places to […]
You have just four more weeks to visit the TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library to see Maurice Sendak: 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons, an exhibition of original artwork by the author and illustrator of beloved children’s books, including Where the Wild Things Are. The exhibition is free and open to the public everyday! The late Maurice […]
“The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another…” So begins one of the most beloved children’s books of all time, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. Now, just over 50 years since it was first published, the book continues to delight and inspire readers of all ages. Max, watercolour […]
Imagine my surprise. I had just finished creating a 'word cloud' of some of my favourite French philosophers using a free website called Wordle (see image above). I wanted to accompany the image with a post paying homage to the liberty of French ideas – spurred by the recent tragic terrorist attacks in Paris. Then […]
Please join us on Wednesday, December 2nd at North York Central Library, in the concourse. Dr. Wayne Hammond will be presenting "A Strength-Based Approach to Paren’ting" from 6:30 to 8 pm. Understanding and purposefully nurturing a child's ability to navigate and negotiate life's challenges in successful ways is the goal of all paren’ts. But in […]
All children cope differently with the stresses they encounter, depending on their individual personalities and strengths. But all children can benefit from learning to cope and becoming more resilient. Resiliency is the ability to withstand stress, adversity and loss by working through the emotions and effects of these challenges. It’s something that develops as people […]
You step into the Atrium of the Toronto Reference Library, you look up marveling at all the space, the levels, the 10 story plus sky-lit ceiling, and then you ask yourself: "how am I suppose to find anything in here?" Locating staff and then telling them that you need assistance is ideal, but consulting wayfinder […]
Do you have an avid reader in your home who is always searching for their next great read? Or is your child a reluctant reader that you need to cajole to read with you, meaning you are always on the prowl for terrific and interesting books that will grab your child's imagination? Whichever it is, or […]