Village Gamer

Toronto Public Library today announced its sixth annual First & Best Booklist, the highly anticipated selection of the year’s best in Canadian books for children from birth to age five that are fun to read and help build early literacy skills. The library’s annual First & Best list is part of its Ready for Reading early literacy initiative – a comprehensive set of free high-quality programs, services and resources that supports reading readiness in children from birth to five years. This year’s list includes some of Canada’s top children’s authors and illustrators, including Jeremy Tankard (It’s a Tiger!), Cary Fagan and Dušan Petri?i? (Mr. Zinger’s Hat), Robert Heidbreder (Noisy Poems for a Busy Day) and Sarah Tsiang (The Stone Hatchlings).

 

“The titles on our First & Best Booklist have been carefully chosen by our expert children’s librarians as our country’s best this year that help develop important early literacy skills,” said Lisa Heggum, Children and Youth Advocate for the Toronto Public Library. “Countless studies have shown that spending time reading with your preschool child instils a lifelong love of reading, and opens up countless doors and opportunities in a child’s life. I trust parents and caregivers will enjoy sharing these wonderful books with their children again and again.”

• Animal Masquerade – Marianne Dubuc – Kids Can Press
• Canada in Words – Per-Henrik Gürth – Kids Can Press
• Extra Yarn – Mac Barnett with Illustrations by Jon Klassen – Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins Publisher
• I Can Do It Myself!  and Now I Am Big! – Stephen Krensky with Illustrations by Sara Gillingham – Abrams Appleseed
• It’s a Tiger! – David LaRochelle with Illustrations by Jeremy Tankard – Chronicle Books
• Kiss, Tickle, Cuddle, Hug – Susan Musgrave – Orca Book Publishers
• Mr. Zinger’s Hat – Cary Fagan – with Illustrations by Dušan Petri?i? – Tundra Books
• Noisy Poems for a Busy Day – Robert Heidbreder with Illustrations by Lori Joy Smith – Kids Can Press
• The Stone Hatchlings– Sarah Tsiang with Illustrations by Qin Leng – Annick Press
• Toads on Toast – Linda Bailey with Illustrations by Colin Jack – Kids Can Press