TD Grade One Book Giveaway Launch for Chaiwala!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (October 31, 2023)—This fall, Grade 1 children nationwide will take home Chaiwala!, written by Priti Birla Maheshwari,  illustrated by Ashley Barron and published by Owlkids Books. Translated into French by Benoit Laflamme, francophone Canadians and French immersion students across Canada will receive copies of the French translation, also entitled Chaiwala !

When their train stops at the station in Jaipur, a girl and her mother hurry to line up at the Chaiwala’s cart. They breathe in scents of ginger, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Tea leaves rustle, sweet milk bubbles and the steaming chai is poured back and forth until the cups are filled. A sensory celebration of family, food and culture.

Working with ministries of education, school boards and library organizations, the CCBC is currently distributing approximately 450,000 copies throughout the country. By the end of this school year, close to 12.5 million books will have been distributed to students since the TD Grade One Book Giveaway was established in 2000. The goal is to encourage literacy in young children, and it also supports the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s mandate of bringing Canadian books and young readers together, and to promote a love of reading and a passion for books.

This year, the launch of the program will take place on Thursday, November 2 at Wilson Avenue Public School in Kitchener, Ontario, where author Priti Birla Maheshwari will invite students to participate in a reading of the book. Students will also have the chance to discuss the story and participate in activities. Illustrator Ashley Barron will give an art demonstration where students will learn how to create a craft of their own—either a cup of chai or a hot chocolate. The event will end with signed copies of Chaiwala! being distributed to each of the students. A separate French launch of the book will take place on November 14 in Montreal.

“I’m so excited to be sharing Chaiwala! with the students at Wilson Avenue Public School,” says Maheshwari. “I hope this heartwarming story, inspired by memories of my own childhood, will have readers of all ages appreciate and cherish the beauty of small moments and introduce them to the power of taking in life's little treasures.”

“Chaiwala! is a celebration of the senses,” says Barron. “Senses like taste, touch and smell can be tricky things to illustrate because they're invisible. That's where the lively swirls and curls of flavour and steam came into play. I've always imagined those flourishes as supporting characters, offering a window into the little girl's experience—one of excitement and anticipation for her favourite treat—a feeling I'm sure every child can relate to.”

“The staff and students at Wilson Avenue Public School are honoured to host author Priti Birla Maheshwari and illustrator Ashley Barron for a reading of Chaiwala!, a story which is a celebration of community sights, sounds and flavours. We’re excited to be a part of the 2023 TD Grade One Book Giveaway,” says Wilson’s Principal Elizabeth Martz. “This is an excellent learning opportunity for our students to listen to a published Canadian author and participate in creating art led by a renowned artist. This lovely story is also a reminder to enjoy the simple pleasures of life with those you love.”

“It is part of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway's focus to feature characters of different ethnicities, cultures, genders, family structures and abilities,” says Urve Tamberg, President of the CCBC’s Board of Directors. “Chaiwala! is an engaging and heartwarming story about travel, adventure and the special treats that make for magical memories. This charmingly written and stunningly illustrated book will not only teach young people about the simple pleasure of ordering a delicious cup of chai, but it will also enable young South Asian readers to see themselves portrayed with accuracy and depth. It gives all children a glimpse into life in Jaipur, India, too, a place many young people will now be able to envision after reading Chaiwala!”

"TD has a longstanding history when it comes to investing in early learning programs that foster a love of reading and help set children up for success," said Jenn Ward, District Vice President, Kitchener/Waterloo, TD Bank Group. "When we read together, we learn and grow together. That’s why we're so proud to work together with the Canadian Children's Book Centre to deliver the TD Grade One Book Giveaway, and titles like Chaiwala!, that help students explore important topics like diversity and inclusion."

This year, the CCBC is collaborating with the teams at CNIB Beyond Print and Kobo to distribute accessible formats to those Grade 1 students who have been identified as having a print disability.

“In collaboration with the CCBC, we are proud to have created print braille editions of the book Chaiwala!,” says Christen Thomas, Director, CNIB Beyond Print. “These beautiful print braille books feature a transparent overlay with embossed braille. This allows children who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind, to share the joy of reading with their parents or vice versa, making storytelling a shared experience.” 

“Removing barriers to reading is central to everything we do, and we look forward to once again collaborating with Owlkids Books, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and TD Bank Group to offer young students this fully accessible digital book,” says Wendy Reid, Accessibility and Publishing Standards Lead at Rakuten Kobo. “When we build Kobo products, we look at everything from a lens of inclusion. If it’s better for people living with disabilities, it’s better for everyone—including young readers.”

Administered by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and through the generous support of TD Bank Group, every year the TD Grade One Book Giveaway gives the gift of a great Canadian children’s picture book to every Grade 1 student in Canada.

 

Click here for classroom activities, such as word searches. Other resources are also available including a booklist featuring titles that centre Asian characters and their experiences. It is our hope that Chaiwala! will enable young readers to foster empathy and understanding of others.  

For more information, please contact:

Tara Mandarano

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre

tara@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, visit bookcentre.ca.

About Owlkids Books

Owlkids Books is an award-winning independent publisher of books for young readers aged 0 to 14. We love making books that help instill in children everywhere a love of reading and of learning about the world around them. We publish board books, picture books, non-fiction, fiction, and graphic novels. Those books can be found in schools, libraries, bookstores, and homes throughout Canada and the U.S. as well as published around the world in a variety of languages by our international publishing partners. For more information, please visit owlkidsbooks.com.

About CNIB and Beyond Print
CNIB Beyond Print is one of Canada’s oldest and most experienced producers of accessible materials and alternative formats. We create accessible audio, EPUBs, and braille versions of books, magazines, and other materials. Founded in 1918, CNIB is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. We deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empower people impacted by blindness to live their dreams and tear down barriers to inclusion. Our work as a blind foundation is powered by a network of volunteers, donors, and partners from coast to coast to coast.

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is the world’s digital bookseller created by and for book lovers. Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten Group, Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo’s millions of worldwide users can read anytime, anywhere, and on any device. With a mission to make reading lives better for all, Rakuten Kobo connects readers to stories using thoughtful and personalized curation of eBooks and audiobooks, and the best dedicated eReaders and apps for reading. With the singular focus of making reading lives the best they can be, Kobo’s open platform allows people to fit reading into more moments in their busy lives. To learn more about Rakuten Kobo, visit kobo.com.