First Book Blog

First Book Canada, Pi Beta Phi, and the University of St. Michael’s College provide books to kids in need in Toronto

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Releases

TORONTO, Ontario (March 7, 2019) – First Book Canada, Pi Beta Phi, and the University of St. Michael’s College held the first Pop Up Book Distribution at the University of Toronto campus earlier this week. First Book Canada distributed over 20,000 books to kids and organizations serving kids in need... Read more

Behind the Scenes at First Book Canada: Grace

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada, Inside First Book Canada

Grace Mahas is the Communications and Events Intern managing the 2018 – 2019 Raptors 905 Reading Challenge and the 8th Annual RBC Capital Markets Pongapalooza. Do you want to start with introducing yourself? My name is Grace, I’m the Communications and Events Intern at First Book Canada. I do a... Read more

First Book Canada and Tata Consultancy Services provide books to kids in downtown Toronto

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Releases

TORONTO, Ontario (February 25, 2019) – First Book Canada and Tata Consultancy Services partnered to provide books to students at King Edward Junior Public School with a Reading Celebration on Friday, February 22nd.  First Book Canada invited guest author/illustrator Paul Covello, who spoke about his process and his recent book... Read more

Going Beyond The Page: A Conversation with Brian McLachlan

Posted in: Author Voices

Brian McLachlan is a cartoonist who writes the “Alex and Charlie” strip for Owl Magazine. He’s also done cartoons for Nickelodeon, Dragon, and The New Yorker Magazine. His book Draw Out The Story: 10 Secrets to Creating Your Own Comics, received an ILA Nonfiction Award, a JLG Gold Medal, and... Read more

A Letter from a First Book Canada Volunteer

Posted in: Impact Stories, Our Partners

Today’s guest post is from Sharon Crowley of Literacy Matters Abbotsford in Abbotsford, B.C. The first time I volunteered for First Book Canada I was SHOCKED at the sheer volume of books that were being donated to local organizations. I was unaware of how the process would work and it... Read more

Making Every Dollar Count: Bridging a Librarian’s Budget

Posted in: Impact Stories

People often ask how I can buy a book for $2.60. First Book Canada’s Marketplace is the answer. I work as a school librarian in three schools in rural Nova Scotia. The schools I work in have small student populations, between approximately 50 – 170 students. Of course the library... Read more

Question & Answer with Raptors 905 Reading Challenge Students

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada, Our Partners

What is the Raptors 905 Reading Challenge? The Raptors 905 Reading Challenge is a reading program that gives books to kids. It is celebrating its fifth year. The program started with DeMar DeRozan who partnered with First Book Canada to support 10 schools to read 10 books over the course of 10 weeks! It is now being supported by the Compugen Green4Good Program, Bank of Montreal, and Raptors 905. This... Read more

The Secret Portal to Happiness: A Conversation with Jennifer Mook-Sang

Posted in: Author Voices

Jennifer Mook-Sang was born with a book in her hand in Guyana, South America. Reading is her passion. When she started reading picture books to her two boys, she realized that writing a book for kids would be the best thing anyone could do. After trying to write a story... Read more

Behind the Scenes at First Book Canada: Gurdeep

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada, Inside First Book Canada

Gurdeep Dhaliwal is the Strategic Alliances Manager at First Book Canada. When you first started, what was that like? I completed the Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College, and through that the opportunity to apply for an internship with First Book Canada came up. From there, I was hired on as a Strategic Alliance Coordinator. It was just... Read more

First Book Canada Distributes Half a Million Books in Ontario in 2018

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Releases

TORONTO, Ontario (December 18, 2018) – At the Ontario Public Service Holiday Gift Drive, First Book Canada and members of the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services donated 5,000 books to children in need. The books were generously donated by First Book Canada’s publishing partner Penguin Random House Canada and they will be distributed to the... Read more