Dear Friends of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre,
In September of 2019, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre alerted its members to the changes that would take place to our programs and activities in 2020. I would like to reiterate the information that specifically relates to Book Week 2020 while also providing an update. Canadian Children’s Book Week began with a tour of 12 authors in 1977. Since that first year, Canadian Children’s Book Week has grown to become a significant national event celebrating Canadian children’s books and reading.
In 2019, the CCBC put out a call for a new title sponsor to support Book Week by issuing a Request for an Expression of Interest. The Centre’s staff also undertook a fundraising campaign to ensure that as many communities as possible would benefit from a Book Week visit.
This year, Book Week will look different than it has in previous years. In 2020, seven creators will tour for Canadian Children’s Book Week, visiting communities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. We remain optimistic that next year’s Book Week will have a greater capacity.
The readings and workshops that take place during Book Week can open a child’s eyes to the world of literature. These readings and interactions with authors, illustrators and storytellers can transform a child into a reader and a reader in a creator. For 43 years we have seen firsthand the importance of this tour and we know that children in 2020 need it just as much as children did in the 1970s. So, we are asking for your help to build Canadian Children’s Book Week back up to its larger scope in the coming years.
We are currently seeking sponsorship opportunities and are raising money for Canadian Children’s Book Week’s Adopt-a-School program, to help make sure that the tour reaches children everywhere. We are counting on our members and supporters to get the word out about Canadian Children’s Book Week. If you have a story of the impact the tour has had on you, please e-mail us at emma@bookcentre.ca.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Rose Vespa
Executive Director
Canadian Children’s Book Centre
Tel: 416-975-0010 ext. 226
rose@bookcentre.ca