The Children's Book Bank Canada

The Children's Book Bank Canada www.childrensbookbank.com We are now open for in-person visits. Please visit our website for hours of operation.

The Children's Book Bank is a charitable not-for-profit organization that supports children's literacy by providing free books and literacy programs to children, teens, and families across Toronto and the GTA.

🐶 REPORT: “Dog Man is a Crazy Book” 📚Congratulations to the winners of our first book report contest: Jenna, Aghathiya, ...
08/22/2026

🐶 REPORT: “Dog Man is a Crazy Book” 📚

Congratulations to the winners of our first book report contest: Jenna, Aghathiya, Radhakrishna, Frankie, Freya, and Ragnar! These talented young readers shared their thoughts on the books they read this summer through written summaries and drawings!

Thank you to everyone who entered—we loved reading each of your reports! Stay tuned for future book report contests this fall!

And join us next week for our Summer Reading Parties where we’ll be celebrating the accomplishments of all our readers this summer!

We are excited to be hosting Malaysian illustrator Chua Chinn Yin at three of our Book Bank spaces for a special reading...
08/20/2026

We are excited to be hosting Malaysian illustrator Chua Chinn Yin at three of our Book Bank spaces for a special reading and illustration activity!

chinnyinc ‘s luminious picture book, THE WATER FOLKS RETURN HOME, written by Landon The Poet was on the IBBY International Honour List 2026, announced at the IBBY World Congress in Ottawa earlier this month. This is a rare opportunity to meet an international storyteller, so don’t miss it!

The Children’s Book Bank Jane & Finch Saturday August 22 at 1:30pm
The Children’s Book Bank in Regent Park Monday August 24 at 4:30pm
The Children’s Book Bank on Sherbourne August 24 at 4:30pm

08/17/2026

One of the youth from St. James Town - Kids Market asked me the best free summertime activity for kids in Toronto. My answer? Art City and the Children’s Book Bank right here in St. James Town. 💜 As a former school board trustee, children’s literacy has always been close to my heart. This day was a great reminder of why I love this community. Watch till the end.

Thank you to SJT Kids Market for the interview and highlight video.

📨 You're invited to the second annual Story Soirée in support of The Children's Book Bank, taking place on November 12, ...
08/17/2026

📨 You're invited to the second annual Story Soirée in support of The Children's Book Bank, taking place on November 12, 2026!

🎟️ Purchase your tickets before September 15 and save 20% off the regular ticket price!: galabid.com/storysoiree or 🔗 SEE LINK IN BIO 🔗

📚 The Story Soirée is uniquely positioned as the only gala in Toronto focused on the issue of children’s literacy. Be swept away by the living storybook atmosphere, curated cocktails, auction prizes, and live performances. Rediscover your inner child through activations led by local poets and artists.

🆕 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦
For 2026, The Children’s Book Bank is proud to introduce three new awards honouring extraordinary individuals who have reshaped the literacy landscape for Toronto’s youth.

🗳️ Nominees for two of the three awards will be determined through an online public nominations process that will take place from Sept. 1-30. More info coming soon!

🌟 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭)
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Honouring an individual who has demonstrated an unwavering, multi-decade commitment to transforming youth literacy in the Greater Toronto Area through the lens of equity and community-rooted storytelling.

🎒 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭)
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Recognizing the contribution of an educator (teacher, elder, or community leader) who uses stories as “mirrors" to help Toronto youth see the value of their own voices and "windows" to understand their place in the world.

🤝 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭)
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To honour the impact of community members who dedicate their lives to empowering Toronto’s youth. This award recognizes young individuals (25 and under) who serve as a “symbol of hope” by using literacy, mentorship, and storytelling to uplift their peers.

🎟️ Join us on November 12, 2026! Get your Early Bird Tickets today!: galabid.com/storysoiree or 🔗 SEE LINK IN BIO 🔗

Yesterday, I had the joy of joining the 2nd Annual St. James Town Kids Market, hosted by Art City and the Children’s Boo...
08/15/2026

Yesterday, I had the joy of joining the 2nd Annual St. James Town Kids Market, hosted by Art City and the Children’s Book Bank. I brought my own personal copy of The Giving Tree to read to the kids. It’s still one of my favourite books, and getting to share it with the next generation of Ward 13 was a full circle moment. Thank you to Art City, the Children’s Book Bank, and Medallion Corporation for bringing this community together.

The Children's Book Bank
Art City Toronto
St. James Town Community Arts

Last night The Children’s Book Bank and IBBY Canada were delighted to co-host a KidLit trivia night at the Regent Park B...
08/11/2026

Last night The Children’s Book Bank and IBBY Canada were delighted to co-host a KidLit trivia night at the Regent Park Book Bank!

This event brought together international delegates visiting from the 40th IBBY World Congress with local authors, illustrators, and children’s literacy advocates for an evening of community building and friendly competition!

Thanks to IBBY International, CCBC and all who joined us!

The first two days of the 40th IBBY International World Congress have been incredible and inspiring!Not only does this m...
08/08/2026

The first two days of the 40th IBBY International World Congress have been incredible and inspiring!

Not only does this mark the first time IBBY Canada has hosted the World Congress, but August 6 was also officially proclaimed as Children’s Literature and Literacy Day in Ottawa by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe Mark Sutcliffe.

The Children’s Book Bank Canada is grateful to be a part of this historic moment for Children’s Literacy in Canada.

If you’re in Ottawa, us today for the Children’s Book Picnic and Parade!

Saturday, August 8, 12:30pm-4:00pm

Our staff are excited to volunteer at this free, family-focused program that woll engage children and families in an interactive and inclusive literary experience. The event will begin with art workshops at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library, followed by a festive book parade to Lansdowne Park and a main program at the Horticultural Building.

Programming will feature reading carpets where recipients of the 2026 IBBY Honour List including Canadian and international authors, illustrators and other special guests will share the joy of reading with children through storytelling and reading aloud. Throughout the afternoon, children will use their “reading passport” to visit centres to participate in storytelling games and other creative activities.

When we made this year’s summer reading program theme “Read Around the World” we didn’t expect our readers to take it li...
08/06/2026

When we made this year’s summer reading program theme “Read Around the World” we didn’t expect our readers to take it literally!

One of our young readers is spending the summer visiting family and sent us her book report all the way from India!

08/04/2026

Our Teen Book Bank Ambassadors recently had the opportunity to see “& Juliet” live on stage at Royal Alexandra Theatre thanks to a generous donation from kidsupfrontto and Mirvish !

“The experience was amazing, and I had a wonderful time. This was my first time at a play, and it completely exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere of the theatre was beautiful, and the passion from the audience in the room only created a more magical experience. Through the roars of laughter and audience reactions, it was easy to immediately engage and immerse into the story. I believe experiences like this are important as they spark creativity, teach valuable and powerful lessons about the world, as well as allow audiences to gather a takeaway from entertaining performances like this one!”

The Book Bank Ambassadors is a summer volunteer program for high school students that offers a combination of valuable hands-on experience supporting our Book Bank spaces and opportunities for youth to develop their own literacy skills. Attending live theatre can play a powerful role in supporting ongoing literacy development, bringing stories off the page and into a shared community experience. We want to thank Kids Up Front and Mirvish for giving our Ambassadors this opportunity!

Address

585 Dundas Street East, Suite 260
Toronto, ON
M5A2B7

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 3pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+14169227323

Website

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