Bridging the Gap
We are seeking members from the First Book Canada Network to help champion change. Our members are committed to our shared goals to envision a better world for children and youth by participating in and accessing our programs to provide culturally diverse content for children across Canada.
First Book Canada’s Story
First Book Canada is building a world where every child has access to a quality education. We work to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in need.
At the heart of our work are the +18,000 members of the First Book Canada Network™, the largest online community of educators and professionals dedicated to children in need across Canada. This Network is the key to creating systemic change. At First Book Canada, we facilitate the sharing of best practices and expand educators’ access to affordable tools and resources. The result is that our educators are more supported and empowered to better serve their students and communities.
To do this, as part of our Theory of Change, First Book Canada provides the First Book Canada Marketplace™ a 24-hour, year-round award-winning repository of affordable and new books, and educational resources curated for kids in need ages 0 to 18.
The Need: Setting the Stage
The Multilateral Early Learning Framework, first announced in 2017 by the Canadian government, identifies national goals for the field of early learning and child care with the stressed importance of increasing “quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility, and inclusivity” through further investments in the field. The Multilateral Early Learning Framework puts forth a strong vision for quality early learning by recognizing the need for “rich early experiences and environments and views children as capable, competent, learners who are full of potential.” Despite a consensus that early childhood is a critical period for laying the foundation for successful child development, there remain large gaps between disadvantaged and more advantaged children in socioemotional and academic development. With structural inequalities along socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic lines, First Book Canada is pushing to support early intervention and to improve literacy rates among children in kindergarten to grade six with our partners at TD Bank Group and the TD Ready Commitment.
A Closer Look
- During the pandemic, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) found that Canadian students’ reading scores dropped by 13 points. PISA defines a drop of 20 points as fully losing out on a full year of learning. That means Canada’s literacy score dropped by over half of a year of learning.
- The International Literacy Association identified that 30% of educators state they need more support with content area literacy which includes providing subject matter-specific texts to focus on listening, speaking reading, and critical thinking.
The Solution: Helping Students Succeed
Navigating the educational system is complex and difficult. Through our partnership with TD, First Book Canada has:
- Provided permanent access to culturally diverse books to more than 55,000 children in schools and community programs.
- Provided over 20,000 culturally relevant books and resources to youth in need across the country through grants to educators.
- Hosted over 10 Reading Celebrations by connecting children’s authors and illustrators with students at elementary schools to inspire a love of reading and writing.
Our work does not stop here. First Book Canada continues to partner with TD to distribute more than 20,000 books to children through our network of educators.
The books we put into the hands of children provide windows to a wider world beyond the confines of mental and physical isolation; mirrors to reflect empowered, diverse experiences; and open doors to lifelong learning, inspiration, and ambition. First Book Canada is transforming lives by ensuring that children have their own complex windows and mirrors, encouraging their life-long success.
Share Your Story
The Bridging the Gap program is part of a larger movement, this is your chance to connect with thousands of First Book Canada members across the country. Share your experience by tagging First Book Canada and using #BooksToKids.
Keep in mind that when you are posting on social media and sharing your Bridging the Gap moments, you are a First Book Canada ambassador. Ensure the content you are sharing is in line with First Book Canada’s values. To learn more about whether or not your media and caption are ready to be shared, check out our Bridging the Gap Brand Book. The Brand Book includes logos and colourways to help you share your experience.