The day celebrates the breadth, diversity and abundance of Canadian identity as demonstrated through our books for our young readers but also through Canadaā€™s authors and illustrators.
 
To make your pledge to Read Canadian or for more information and free resources, check out:
 
Schools, libraries, daycares, and families across Canada are invited to sign up and join the rest of Canada in reading, being read to, or listening to a Canadian book for 15 minutes on November 2, 2022.
 
You are invited to attend two free virtual presentations on November 2, 2022, featuring over 25 Canadian authors and illustrators including Michael Martchenko, Ruth Ohi and Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Kenneth Oppel, Teresa Toten, David Alexander Robertson, and more.
 
Remember, you can help promote reading Canadian all year round. Buy or borrow Canadian books. Share I Read Canadian Day with your colleagues, schools, teachers, librarians, friends, family, and bookstores. Include a link in your email signature. Tag #IReadCanadian in your posts and reposts. Itā€™s a Canada-wide party and everyone is invited. Help spread the word!
 
2021ā€™s I Read Canadian Day celebration boasted a special message from the Prime Minister to the children of Canada and saw nearly 3,000 registered schools across the country participating and special events in bookstores from Prince Edward Island through to British Columbia and into the Territories.
 
I Read Canadian Day is made possible through the partnership of 91¾«Ń”, The Canadian Childrenā€™s Book Centre, The Canadian Society of Childrenā€™s Authors Illustrators and Performers, The Ontario Library Association, The Forest of Reading and presenters of the events are supported by Access Copyright.
 
Sign up for the events and receive your link at:
 

 

91¾«Ń” is proud to be an I Read Canadian Day partner organization.

GOAL: The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of Canadian books and celebrate the richness, diversity and breadth of Canadian literature.

I Read Canadian Day is on November 2, 2022

 is a national celebration of Canadian books for young people, with the goal of elevating the genre and celebrating the breadth and diversity of these books.

The goal of I Read Canadian Day 2021 is for kids and teens nationwide to read a Canadian book for 15 minutes on February 17, 2021.

Last year, the inaugural event in 2020 had over 1,650 schools registered to participate. This year, all registrants will be entered to win prizes: 50 award-winning Canadian books and free virtual visits from Canadian authors, including Melanie Florence, Kevin Sylvester and Teresa Toten.

Key activities will take place February 13 to February 21, with February 17 as the official I Read Canadian Day. On that day at noon EST, a series of videos called I Write Canadian will premiere on the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s YouTube channel, . Presentations from an amazing roster of authors and illustrators will be featured to celebrate I Read Canadian.

How You Can Participate

•  to participate on February 17. It’s free!
• Download our for activity ideas and more.
• Check out  for your I Read Canadian merchandise to wear or share with your readers.
• Share photos with us on social media by tagging @IReadCanadian and using the hashtag #IReadCanadian
• Watch 20 Canadian authors and illustrators speak

#NowMoreThanEver

Access to books and reading has been precarious during the pandemic. Many school districts have restricted access to school libraries. School library professionals across the country have nevertheless found inventive ways to connect kids to reading. I Read Canadian Day is a wonderful way to celebrate books and reading. We need reading now more than ever.

October 27, 2020 (Toronto, ON) ā€“ In these uncertain times, when we seek to connect even while physically distanced, the goals of the second annual I Read Canadian Day, February 17, 2021, will resonate now more than ever. The event will be a national celebration of Canadian books for young people, with the goal of elevating the genre, and celebrating their breadth and diversity. I Read Canadian Day will take place in homes, schools, libraries and bookstores all across the country. Last year, the inaugural celebration received much needed support from federal representatives ā€“ most notably Mr. Lloyd Longfield, MP for Guelph, as well as Senator Rob Black, and received coverage from The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and Quill & Quire. Celebrated Canadians Eugene Levy; Margaret Atwood; The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson; Kimā€™s Convenience actor, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee; and the National Ballet of Canadaā€™s Karen Kain, were among those who joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau showing their support on social media @ireadCanadian.

The goal of I Read Canadian Day 2021, is for children nationwide to read a Canadian book for fifteen minutes on February 17th. On Saturday, February 13th, events will be held at bookstores all across Canada with creators taking part in readings and signings. ā€œIn these unprecedented times, now more than ever, we need to celebrate all Canadian voices by participating in I Read Canadian!ā€ says Eric Walters, the best-selling author who spearheaded this initiative.

I Read Canadian Day was created as a collaboration between the Canadian Childrenā€™s Book Centre (CCBC); childrenā€™s author Eric Walters; CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Childrenā€™s Authors, Illustrators and Performers); and the Ontario Library Association (OLA.). This year, Communication-Jeunesse and 91¾«Ń” (91¾«Ń”) have joined the steering committee, and will respectively be helping the event reach more French-Language Canadians and school librarians.

ā€œYoung readers across the country responded enthusiastically to the first I Read Canadian Day, and school libraries helped make that happen,ā€ says Anita Brooks Kirkland, chair of 91¾«Ń”. ā€œCanadian books help kids discover more about themselves and make connections to the diversity of the world around them. Kids need those connections now more than ever, and 91¾«Ń” is very pleased to help make that happen.ā€

ā€œThe team at Communication-Jeunesse is constantly in awe of the quality of the childrenā€™s literature coming out of Quebec and French-Canada, which succeeds in holding its own in the competitive global book industry,ā€ says PĆ©nĆ©lope Jolicoeur, Executive Director of Communication-Jeunesse. ā€œWe are proud to collaborate again this year with I Read Canadian in order to shine light on our great literature.ā€

The social media campaign, using the hashtag #IReadCanadian will launch in November on I Read Canadianā€™s official and accounts. . Key activities will take place February 13 to February 21, with February 17 as the official I Read Canadian Day. On that day at noon EST, a series of videos called I Write Canadian will premiere on the CCBCā€™s YouTube channel, . Presentations from an amazing roster of authors and illustrators will be featured to celebrate I Read Canadian.

Download the of this release.

91¾«Ń” the CCBC: The Canadian Childrenā€™s Book Centre (CCBC) is a national, not- for-profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing, illustrating and publishing of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers. See more at .

91¾«Ń” Eric Walters: It all began in 1993 when Eric was teaching a Grade 5 class. His students were reluctant readers and writers and Eric began to write to encourage them to become more involved in literature. Since his first novel Eric has exploded on the childrenā€™s and young adult scene. Over the following years he has published over 114 more novels and picture books with 8 more scheduled in the coming years. Eric is the recipient of The Order of Canada for his contribution to literature. See more at .

91¾«Ń” 91¾«Ń”: 91¾«Ń” is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to professional research and education in the field of the school library learning commons in Canada. 91¾«Ń” connects school library practitioners and educators across Canada in the collaborative pursuit of delivering exemplary practices reflective of current professional school library learning commons standards. See more at canadianschoollibraries.ca.

91¾«Ń” CANSCAIP: CANSCAIP is dedicated to Canadian childrenā€™s authors, illustrators and performers and their work. We provide promotional and networking opportunities to over 400 professional Members and 600 Friends, making us the largest organization in Canada supporting creative work for children and teens. Canadaā€™s creators for young people have achieved great success here and around the world, and CANSCAIP has been an important part of encouraging that success. See more at .

91¾«Ń” Communication-Jeunesse: Communication-Jeunesse is a national non-profit cultural organization that was founded in 1971 to promote and appreciate Quebec and Franco-Canadian literature aimed at young people age 0 to 17. The vitality of the organization is largely based on the quality of its associative life and the commitment of its members has been at the heart of its operations since its creation. The members of Communication-Jeunesse enrich its actions and promote its development with as much rigor as energy. For more information, please visit .

91¾«Ń” the Forest of Reading: The Forest of ReadingĀ® is Canadaā€™s largest recreational reading program! This initiative of the Ontario Library Association (OLA) offers ten reading programs to encourage a love of reading in people of all ages. The Forest helps celebrate Canadian books, publishers, authors and illustrators. More than 270,000 readers participate annually from their school and/or public library. All Canadians are invited to participate via their local public library, school library, or individually. See more at .

91¾«Ń” the Ontario Library Association: Founded in 1900, the OLA is the oldest continually operating non-profit library association in Canada. With more than 5,000 members, the OLA is the largest library association in the country. We provide the chance for library staff and supporters to share experience and expertise while creating innovative solutions in a constant changing environment. We offer opportunities for learning, networking, recognizing, influencing and celebrating within the library world. See more at .