What We Do
“The Children’s Book Bank is my favorite place to go. You can get smart by getting books for free.”
“A resource such as [The Children's Book Bank] helps to level the playing field for children living in poverty by providing them with the tools to improve their reading skills and their knowledge….The Book Bank has changed the face of Regent Park”
Too many children in Canada do not own their own books. Studies show that reading and book ownership correlate to higher levels of childhood literacy. Despite the importance of book ownership to a child’s academic achievement, interest in reading, and future success, large numbers of Canadian low-income families cannot purchase children’s books.
The mission of the Children’s Book Bank is to provide free books and literacy support to children who need them. Many Canadian families and organizations own quality children’s books that they have outgrown or cannot use. The Children’s Book Bank saves these books from the landfill or recycling system and distributes them to children who otherwise would not own their own books.
You can help put books into the hands of Toronto children in low-income neighborhoods by supporting The Children’s Book Bank. Our organization:
- Gives free books to the children who need them most
- Provides children with a safe and welcoming environment where they can experience the joy of reading
- Offers literacy support in high needs communities
- Supports the responsible recycling of gently-used books
- Promotes community sharing through facilitating book drives by schools and organization
