County Kids Read

10/07/2026

➡ As the cost of living rises and more residents struggle to make ends meet, Prince Edward County’s Community Service Organizations are playing a vital role in keeping community members housed, fed, and financially secure. Municipal support for the services they provide residents in need is critical to their survival.

➡ The Prince Edward Learning Centre, County Kids Read, and the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce have produced a brief to highlight the importance of this issue. Residents are welcome to use it as a tool in their communications with candidates in the lead-up to the October 26th election.

➡➡➡ Visit www.pecchamber.com/Your-Voice/reports-and-policy-submissions to view and download the Brief.

10/01/2026

🎉 One of the many things that makes the CKR team's hearts sing: when kids take a moment to enjoy their brand new books right in the middle of the playground!

🙌 THANK YOU to our wonderful volunteers Mary Ann, Leslie, Miranda, Bryan, Sally, Laurel, and Janet for placing an amazing 250 books into the hands of County kids in the span of 4 days last week. And thank you to our recent event organizers - St. Gregory CS (Fall BBQ - pictured!), Athol South-Marysburgh PS (Fall Open House), and the HUB Child & Family Centre (Touch a Truck) for welcoming us and bringing our community together!

09/30/2026

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission stated that "Education is what got us into this mess — the use of education at least in terms of residential schools — but education is the key to reconciliation. We need to look at the way we are educating children. That's why we say that this is not an aboriginal problem. It's a Canadian problem."

Today and every day, we reflect on the important role of books and reading in both Truth and Reconciliation, and ensuring access to Indigenous stories and perspectives for learners of all ages.

We recently added some new titles to our Exploring Indigenous Culture booklist, and encourage County families to take a look and seek out these titles in the CKR Book Room, library, or wherever you get your books!

RESOURCES

09/29/2026

Sincere thanks to the Prince Edward County Lions Club for their continued, generous support of County Kids Read! We are so grateful to have the Lions in our corner as we work together to unlock a brighter future for all County kids.

Our Board Secretary Wendy and Executive Director Andrea were delighted to welcome (from L-R) Lions Rhonda Payne, Janet Marissen, and John Whyte to the Book Room for a special cheque presentation moment earlier today.

Thank you, Prince Edward County Lions Club! We simply couldn't be making the tremendous (and growing) impact on County kids without the support of our local service clubs.

09/28/2026

📚 Join PEC's Early Literacy Action Team for a fun Pop-Up Playgroup on Tuesday October 6th at Demorestville Town Hall!

🙌 County Kids Read, Nurse Jennifer Howting from PEFHT, and PE Learning Centre will join Early ON for this special Playgroup all about books and literacy. This is a special initiative of PEC's new Early Literacy Action Team.

🎉 FREE giveaway bags with books & literacy resources, snacks, storytime, and more!

➡ Tuesday October 6th, 9:30-11:30, Demorestville Town Hall (2771 County Road 5). Click this link to register (also in bio of ) https://www.missioninc.com/cso/lennox-addington/en-ca/earlyon/events/863_20261006T093000Z

📚 Can't wait to see you there!

Early on PEC Prince Edward Learning Centre Prince Edward Family Health Team

A weekly program that helps you stretch your baby food budget and is available throughout Hastings & Prince Edward County. Available items for pick up include formula, diapers, and wipes.

09/21/2026

📚 It’s another BUSY, BOOK-FILLED week at County Kids Read!

💫 Our volunteers are excited to give out books at not one, not two, but THREE events this week. We'll start off with two school community open houses - St. Gregory on Wednesday the 23rd and Athol South-Marsyburgh on Friday. Then we'll be at Early ON PEC's Touch-a-Truck event on Saturday the 26th from 10-1:30 (the event is from 10-2). SEE YOU THERE!

🙌 Thanks to our volunteers who are making it all possible, and to our partners for inviting us to join in the fun!

Athol-South Marysburgh PS Early on PEC

09/19/2026

What a wonderful way to continue the International Literacy Day celebrations this September - which also happens to be Education and Literacy month for Rotary Clubs - with a generous contribution from Picton Rotary!

Thanks to Murray and Barb (and Joan behind the camera) for visiting us at the Book Room and to all Picton Rotarians for their continued support of County Kids Read and the children of our community.

County Kids Read is a non-profit that gives free books to children throughout Prince Edward County. This month is Basic Education and Literacy Month for Rotary so what better time to show our support for them. Pictured (L-R) is Picton Murray McBain - President-Picton Rotary, Andrea Dawes - Executive Director-County Kids Read, Jennifer Hunter - Board of Directors-County Kids Read, Barb Proctor - Community Services Director-Picton Rotary.

09/14/2026

🥰 The Great County Read-In was…. The GREATEST!

✨ We are basking in the glow of this delightful celebration of books, reading, and our community!

🙌 THANK YOU to all of the wonderful folks who came out to read, listen to stories, and chat “all things books and literacy” with us and your neighbours. What a magical time. Should we do it again next year? 👀

🙏 A huge shout-out to Katie and Joanna from Our CommUnity Project for the idea and being such wonderful co-collaborators, and for building and sharing the coolest pop-up Little Free Library in all the land. To our event sponsors Janice Zest Kitchen Shop halfkanga | PEC Custom Cakes., to Assembly Press / Brick Books for offering their free books in exchange for a donation to CKR, Ruth Dwight for poster design, and to Karen from Karen Palmer for sharing Olive the typewriter with many curious kiddos! Together, we created a fun and inspiring moment for our community and we couldn’t be more grateful for each and every one of you.

🫶 It takes a village to raise and support readers of all ages, and we are so honoured to be doing this important work for the future of Prince Edward County!

09/11/2026

🎉 Happy International Literacy Day, Prince Edward County!

📣 Tuesday September 8th was International Literacy Day, but the County Kids Read team is celebrating this special occasion all week - 365 days a year, in fact!

😍 We kicked it off with a deputation at Tuesday's Council meeting - highlighting the importance of literacy for our community, and of Municipal support for local organizations like CKR who work tirelessly to create literacy learning opportunities for County residents of all ages. Read our International Literacy Day Proclamation here - https://www.thecounty.ca/government/mayors-office/proclamations/ and watch Andrea's presentation starting around 1:10:30 here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHIS-7ceWQ

📚 Our volunteers also came together for a Book Stamping Party to prepare for our upcoming school visits, and a Training session for Year 2 of our Book Buddies program - just two examples of the many activities our passionate team members are working on behind-the-scenes.

👀 Next up - the Great County Read-In this Sunday. See the FB Event in the comments. We hope you can join us to celebrate the joy, power, and benefits of reading with the broader community!

🙌 THANK YOU so much to all of our volunteers, supporters, and collaborators. Together, we are unlocking a brighter future for all County kids -- on International Literacy Day and every day!

09/10/2026

🙌 The countdown is on! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers, about The Great County Read-In… swipe for the scoop!

WHAT: A flash mob… for reading! Bring a book / something to read, and seating if needed.

WHY: To celebrate International Literacy Day, and the right to read for Prince Edward County residents of all ages!

WHEN: Sunday September 13th from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

WHERE: Benson Park - 56 King St, Picton (rain location Picton Armoury - check out socials for updates!)

ALL THE FUN! We will also have:

➡️ for the kids: read alouds and free books from CKR!
➡️ refreshments including cupcakes from halfkanga | PEC Custom Cakes. while supplies last - don’t sleep!
➡️ customized typewriter poems with Karen Palmer

No book, no problem!

➡️ for grownups: Assembly Press and Brick Books will have new and gently used books available by donation (proceeds to CKR) and Our Community Project will be running a pop-up Little Free Library
➡️ for kids: free books and stories with CKR!

Thank you to our event sponsors! Janice Zest Kitchen Shop halfkanga | PEC Custom Cakes. Assembly Press Karen Palmer

And thank you to Ruth Dwight for our poster design!

📚✨ SEE YOU SUNDAY! PLEASE SHARE WIDELY! 📚✨