Canadian Children’s Book Week Kicks Off on April 28, 2024
Prepare for a week of stories and fun with Canadian children’s books!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (April 26, 2024)—The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is excited to announce the start of Canadian Children’s Book Week. From April 28-May 4, Canadian children's authors, illustrators and storytellers will embark on a cross-country tour to share stories and captivate the imaginations of children and teens. Throughout the week, 32 authors, illustrators and storytellers will visit thousands of young people at schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres across Canada, both in-person and virtually. Visits include reading and sharing stories, engaging in hands-on creative story-building and arts activities, and sharing the joy of Canadian children’s literature.
“We know that hearing directly from authors, illustrators and storytellers can help young people feel seen and heard and can encourage them to tell their own stories. Hearing the stories that are told by these celebrity creators reinforces the idea that their own stories are important and that they, too, can participate and create,” says Stephanie Wells, CCBC Executive Director. “For some young people this may be their only opportunity to meet and be inspired by Canadian children’s book creators. While Canadian Children’s Book Week celebrates the joy of reading, it also reminds us all of the importance of supporting the diverse community of Canadian children’s creators and publishers across the country.”
Once again, we are teaming up with First Book Canada (FBC) to provide presentations to schools and libraries in high needs communities. FBC is sponsoring 10 readings across the country, and they will also provide the host venues with multiple copies of a selected title by the visiting author or illustrator.
For the first time, this year we are collaborating with the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF). As part of their virtual programming, they are hosting a presentation with touring creators Joanna Cacao and Katherine Battersby. The event takes place on Friday, May 3 at 5 pm ET.
If you’re in the Montreal or Saskatoon areas this weekend, there are two free public events taking place. Babar Books will kick off Canadian Children’s Book Week in Quebec on Sunday, April 28 from 2-4 pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet touring creators Mitali Banerjee Ruths, Katherine Battersby, Heather Camlot, Sylvia McNicoll and Amanda West Lewis. The bookstore is located at 46 Ste Anne Street in Pointe-Claire, Quebec.
On the same day, Saskatchewan author-illustrator Miriam Körner will kick off her tour at the Frances Morrison Central Library located at 311 23rd Street East in Saskatoon. This event is taking place from 2:30-3:30 pm in conjunction with the Saskatchewan German Council.
If you’re in the Sudbury, Ontario area, you will have the chance to meet L.E. Carmichael, author of science books for young people. The Greater Sudbury Public Library will host the author for two presentations taking place as part of Book Week. The first presentation will take place on Monday, April 29 at 6 pm at its Main Public Library (74 Mackenzie Street, Sudbury, ON). The second presentation will take place on Tuesday, April 30 at 4 pm at its South End Public Library (1991 Regent Street, Sudbury, ON). These presentations are being held with the support of Nickel City Literacy League.
The 2024 Canadian Children’s Book Week Line Up!
Alberta
Judy I. Lin (author)
Ruth Ohi* (author-illustrator)
Mark David Smith (author)
British Columbia: Interior
Leona Prince* (author)
Emily Seo (author)
British Columbia: Lower Mainland
Nadia L. Hohn* (author)
Erika Rodriguez Medina (illustrator)
Leona Prince* (author)
British Columbia: Vancouver Island
Maureen Fergus (author)
Leona Prince* (author)
Manitoba
Joanna Cacao (author-illustrator)
Nadia L. Hohn (author)
Newfoundland
Ruth Ohi* (author-illustrator)
Sarah Raughley* (author)
Kevin Sylvester* (author-illustrator)
New Brunswick
Chad Lucas* (author)
Jack Wong (author-illustrator)
Nova Scotia
Vicki Grant (author)
Chad Lucas (author)
Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (author)
Ontario
Anthony Audain (storyteller)
Katherine Battersby** (author-illustrator)
Shannon Bramer (author)
Lana Button (author)
Joanna Cacao* (author-illustrator)
L.E. Carmichael** (author)
Ken Daley (illustrator)
Deborah Kerbel** (author)
Rina Singh (author)
Rochelle Strauss** (author)
Wanda Taylor** (author)
Heather Whaley (storyteller)
Prince Edward Island
Rina Singh* (author)
Shannon Bramer* (author)
Quebec
Mitali Banerjee Ruths (author)
Katherine Battersby** (author-illustrator)
Lana Button* (author)
Heather Camlot (author)
Sylvia McNicoll (author)
Ruth Ohi* (author-illustrator)
Leona Prince* (author)
Sarah Raughley* (author)
Amanda West Lewis (author)
Saskatchewan
Deborah Kerbel* (author)
Miriam Körner (author-illustrator)
Yukon
Leona Prince* (author)
Lorna Schultz Nicholson (author)
All sessions are in person, unless otherwise indicated.
* Virtual session
** Both in-person and virtual sessions
For more information about the program, the touring creators or to download the Book Week poster, please visit bookcentre.ca/book-week.
Tournée Lire à tout vent 2024, hosted by Communication-Jeunesse, our francophone sister organization, will take place simultaneously. For a list of who’s touring, click here.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Wells
Executive Director
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
416 975-0010 ext. 1
stephanie@bookcentre.ca
About The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers. For more information, please visit our website: bookcentre.ca.
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