Contact Info

Tessa Griffin, Director
Canadian Children’s Book Club Program
Toronto, Ontario M6P 2N5

Email: info@cankidsbookclub.ca
Tel: (416) 518-0064
Fax: 1-866-591-9562

The Canadian Children’s Book Club Program was founded in 2004 by Tessa Griffin for its initiative to encourage and facilitate student directed book clubs in Toronto schools. Tessa has her diploma in Education from McGill University and AMS Montessori training with experience teaching elementary and middle school children in both the public and private systems. 

A pilot was conducted in two Toronto schools from Oct. 2003–May 2004. Based on student and teacher evaluations and personal observations it was clear the concept was viable but would benefit by having a list of titles from which the students could choose.

By September 2004 a list of titles was chosen and relationships with publishers were established. The Program Benefit of one free book for new members was introduced.

The program began organizing author events for book club members at local Toronto bookstores in 2005. 

 

Objectives

• Increase the number of children reading for pleasure
• Support school librarians
• Create opportunity for Canadian authors to promote works in fiction through meaningful interaction with their readers
• Encourage and help circulate new quality publications by publishers of children’s    literature
• Stimulate business for local booksellers.

 

   



How the Program Works

A) Selecting titles

Titles are selected annually by a committee made up of teachers, librarians and or book sellers. The long list is submitted in spring by publishers of Canadian children’s literature. The committee seeks recently published work of high quality by a Canadian author. The selection committee meets to discuss and select the list of titles to be used for the following school year.

B) Participating Schools

A champion in each school is identified to initiate and run the program. They are provided with a framework on how to get started, support materials and books selected on a yearly basis. School champions have the flexibility to structure the program to best suit their needs and the needs of their students.  The CCBCP provides advice and free delivery of books to the schools.

C) Author Events

The CCBCP, in conjunction with publishers, plans author events at local bookstores. All events take place during school hours. Book club members from the neighbourhood schools are invited on a first come first serve basis to attend the event. All book store events are funded by the program.

 

Sponsor

The Canadian Children’s Book Club Program continues to expand today with help from its sponsor MST Group.