TD Grade One Book Giveaway
The world has changed a great deal since Mortimer was selected as the 2020 TD Grade One Book Giveaway title. The giveaway program was started to promote literacy, but bringing joy to children has always been at the forefront of our mission. With half a million children set to receive this book during the upcoming school year, we wanted to use this challenging time to send a message of hope, inclusion and empathy to children and their families. Working together with our program sponsor, TD Bank Group, as well as teachers, educators and publishing professionals, we have decided to select another popular Munsch classic — Moira’s Birthday, written by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko, and published by Annick Press in 1987. L’anniversaire, translated by Christiane Duchesne and published by Éditions Scholastic, will also be available. Featuring a little girl who invites the whole school to her birthday party, the message of inclusion and unity is one that we feel is important, now more than ever. In a world of COVID-19 where children may feel isolated and alone, a story of children in celebration is a hopeful reminder of what is really important to us: being together. A classic Munsch title that perhaps is not as well known as his other books, Moira’s Birthday will be a new, fun read for many children. For the program’s 20th year anniversary, we want the TD Grade One Book Giveaway to be a party that everyone is invited to, just like Moira’s birthday party.
For many Grade 1 students, Moira’s Birthday will be the first book that they own. We are confident that, in a time of uncertainty, this book will provide children with the sense of community that we have all been craving.
Since 2000, in cooperation with ministries of education, school boards and library organizations across Canada, the CCBC has given every Grade 1 child a free Canadian children’s book.
The book is to be taken home by each child to keep and to read with their parents. This far-reaching annual book giveaway program, which provides over 550,000 books to Grade 1 children across Canada, is fully funded by TD Bank Group. The program is intended to encourage literacy and reading for young children and supports the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s mandate of bringing great Canadian books to Canadian children to promote a love of reading and a passion for books.
The coordination of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway is done by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. School boards and ministries of education in all provinces and territories will be contacted in fall 2020 for their 2020/2021 Grade 1 enrolment figures. Schools should contact their school board to ensure that they are on the list to receive the giveaway book. If you have any questions regarding the 2020 program, please contact Meghan Howe at bookgiveaway@bookcentre.ca.
Previous giveaway books:
2019
My Heart Fills With Happiness/sâkaskinêw nitêh miywêyihtamowin ohci
written by Monique Gray Smith
illustrated by Julie Flett
translated by Mary Cardinal Collins
Orca Book Publishers
2018
Giraffe and Bird
written and illustrated by Rebecca Bender
Pajama Press
2017
Good Morning, Canada
written and illustrated by Andrea Lynn Beck
Scholastic Canada
2016
Small Saul
written and illustrated by Ashley Spires
Kids Can Press
2015
Mr. Zinger’s Hat
written by Cary Fagan
illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Tundra Books
2014
Doors in the Air
written David Weale
illustrated by Pierre Pratt
Orca Book Publishers
2013
Boy Soup
written Loris Lesynski
illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Annick Press
2012
I’ve Lost My Cat
written and illustrated by Philippe Béha
Éditions Imagine
2011
Gifts
written by Jo Ellen Bogart
illustrated by Barbara Reid
Scholastic Canada
2010
Caramba
written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books
2009
Let’s Go! The Story of Getting from There to Here
written by Lizann Flatt; illustrated by Scot Ritchie
Owlkids
2008
Too Many Books!
written by Gilles Tibo; illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin
Scholastic Canada
2007
The Zlooksh
written by Dominique Demers; illustrated by Fanny
Les 400 coups
2006
Franklin in the Dark
written by Paulette Bourgeois; illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
2005
Alligator Stew: Favourite Poems by Dennis Lee
written by Dennis Lee; illustrated by Rogé
Key Porter Books
2004
Omar On Ice
written and illustrated by Maryann Kovalski
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
2003
The Girl Who Hated Books
written by Manjusha Pawagi; illustrated by Leanne Franson
Second Story Press
2002
When Jeremiah Found Mrs. Ming
written by Sharon Jennings; illustrated by Mireille Levert
Annick Press
2001
Young Authors’ Day at Pokeweed Public School
written and illustrated by John Bianchi
Pokeweed Press
2000
Nicholas at the Library
written by Hazel Hutchins; illustrated by Ruth Ohi
Annick Press