It gets harder and harder to believe that there are any "best kept secrets" in the city anymore. Share your views on Toronto's best playground and the fun-seekers will arrive en masse. Who can blame them? Outdoor play spaces are worth their weight in gold. Playgrounds have come a long way. Images from the Toronto Public […]
We all know that reading out loud to children from a very young age has lots of benefits. We listen to stories at schools, at our libraries, and from all around us. The art of storytelling has historically been a great way for children to connect to their heritage. Unfortunately for those of us who […]
If you've folded a paper plane before, you've done origami. Why not push yourself to fly a bit higher? Photo Credit: Shereen M on a CC License Lillian H. Smith Branch has an origami club for kids and their caregivers: all novice, intermediate and advanced folders are welcome. Each month showcases a new theme […]
Photo Credit: Eva Van Ostade on a CC License Colouring books are no longer strictly a child's domain, so why should ABC books be left solely to the kids to enjoy? Oliver Jeffers is a man after my own heart with "Once Upon an Alphabet." He realizes that every letter is worthy of its own […]
The end of the school year is fast approaching, and at Lillian H. Smith we've got an exciting summer and tons of programs planned, starting now! Yes, we're a little early, but there's nothing better than gearing up for warm weather, sunny days, and FREEDOM, GLORIOUS FREEDOM with some fun crafts and programs all at […]
photo credit: Wikipedia Carniolus If you want to see an amazing animated film, borrow Song of the Sea! For the past few days, I have not been able to get the title track of Song of the Sea out of my head. It is beautifully sung by Lisa Hannigan, with music by Bruno Coulais and […]
Whether you admit it or not, you probably make up silly little songs to sing while doing the laundry or crooning to your pets. Making up words might come just as naturally to your creative brain. There is something inherently pleasing about this foolish vocabulary. Let’s go back to our children’s book roots for some […]
Doll houses are cute, right? WRONG. Do a quick search for doll house stories, and you are bound to come up with one of the scariest books (of my childhood, at least): The Dollhouse Murders, by Betty Ren Wright. Amy and her sister Louann move to an old farmhouse with their aunt Clare, where the […]
Do you love to look at art? Do you love to draw? Do you feedback on your work from a professional? Join us on Thursday, July 24th for an exhibit of Chinese Cartoonist Tony Wan's work, followed by a drawing workshop for teens! Tony Wan has been drawing for contests and newspapers since […]
I first picked up this book in the depths of last February, when I was spending a lot of time at home, awake in the middle of the night nursing my newborn son. It was a riveting read for those long dark hours, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Toronto’s medical history, […]