TD Kids Book Clubs bring award-nominated kids books to communities across Canada
Throughout fall 2018, kids across Canada are celebrating the finalists for the 2018 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award with TD Kids Books Clubs in six participating cities, featuring nominated authors and illustrators as special guests.
Participating young readers receive copies of the five books shortlisted for the award, and have the opportunity to meet the books' creators in person and ask them their questions.
Read on for a description of some of the TD Kids Book Clubs happening in communities from coast to coast to coast.
Halifax readers get to know coal mining culture through Town Is by the Sea
On Oct. 10, 2018, Grade 4 and 5 students at Prospect Road Elementary School in Halifax met with Joanne Schwartz and Sydney Smith, the creators of Town Is by the Sea, for a conversation about the history of coal mining in their province. They were joined by Mainstreet host Bob Murphy to talk about how families like theirs might have been affected by this dangerous work not so long ago.
Winnipeg book club participants celebrate the magic of winter with When The Moon Comes
On Oct. 10, 2018, author Paul Harbridge and illustrator Matt James gathered with more than a hundred six, seven and eight-year-olds at Winnipeg's Millennium Library to talk about their book When The Moon Comes. Participating children read the book together with their teachers beforehand and their exchange with Harbridge and James was moderated by CBC Manitoba's Weekend Morning Show host Nadia Kidwai.
Young readers in B.C. learn about reconciliation with Speaking Our Truth
Author Monique Gray Smith's book Speaking Our Truth is a young person's guide to reconciliation and features reflections on the theme from young people themselves. On Oct. 12, 2018, a group of students at Selkirk Montessori in Victoria, B.C. — home to one of the young readers interviewed in Smith's book — welcomed the author for a conversation about Indigenous-settler relations in Canada, alongside North by Northwest host Sheryl MacKay.
Calgary readers looks up — way up! — while reading Picture the Sky
On Oct. 16, 2018, a group of kindergartners at Calgary's Bowcroft Elementary School met with celebrated Canadian plasticine artist Barbara Reid, for a conversation about her book, Picture the Sky. Reid was be joined by Daybreak Alberta host Russell Bowers, who moderated a discussion about her unique approach to creating children's books entirely illustrated with plasticine.
Readers from two Montreal schools dive into Monique Gray Smith's Speaking Our Truth
Students from two Montreal-area schools — St. Willibrord School in Châteauguay, Que. and Edgewater Elementary in Laval, Que. — had the opportunity to meet with Speaking Our Truth author Monique Gray Smith on Oct. 23, 2018 to talk about colonialism and the role of young people in reconciliation.
Grade 5 readers in Toronto get fantastical with some help from Dragonfly Song
On Oct. 26, 2018, a group of Grade 5 students at Wedgewood Junior School in Etobicoke, Ont. met with Dragonfly Song author Wendy Orr to talk about the middle-grade fantasy novel's themes of mythology, community, magic and more as part of their school's lunchtime book club.
To find out more about all the books nominated for the $50K TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, click here.