“There are food banks, clothing banks, furniture banks. Why isn’t there a book bank?... It’s really incredible. I wondered if books and children were a thing of the past. Would they rather have computers or hand-held games? But no, the enthusiasm with which kids embrace books is amazing.”

- Kim Beatty on starting The Children’s Book Bank in 2008

Two young children sitting together on a couch, one reading a children's book titled 'Can You Count?', the other looking at a plush doll of a character with a red hat and blue outfit.

ABOUT US

The Children’s Book Bank provides free books and literacy programs to children across Toronto, improving literacy rates and socioeconomic outcomes.

Our programs are developed and supported by knowledgeable staff, dedicated volunteers, and trusted community partners who work together to make every interaction meaningful, welcoming, and impactful. We also collaborate with neighbouring agencies to provide multifaceted programs.

In 2024, The Children’s Book Bank gave away 146,632 donated books to children in need; since 2008, we have distributed 1.7 million books across the city. 

Two young girls in school uniforms sitting on colorful foam mats, reading a book together inside a classroom or library.

OUR MISSION

The Children’s Book Bank is guided by our BOOKS principle: Belonging, Options, Opportunities, Knowledge, and Sustainability.

We believe in creating spaces of belonging where children feel welcomed and supported. By offering options, we empower children to choose their own books and build a love of reading. These choices open up new opportunities for children and families to enrich their lives.

The knowledge shared in our spaces is delivered with kindness and care, sparking curiosity and discovery. And by fostering sustainable systems, we ensure that our communities—and our planet—benefit for generations to come.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“The foundation of reconciliation is stories.” - David A. Robertson, 52 Ways to Reconcile

The Children’s Book Bank is located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis. We acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit and is also the subject of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant.

We commit to making space for everyone’s stories and to ensuring that all children have access to Indigenous-authored books. In doing so, we hope to support the ongoing work of truth and reconciliation and to offer community spaces that honour this land’s treaties. 

OUR STORY

A cozy library room with a wooden oval table in the center displaying children's books. The room has bookshelves filled with books, stuffed animals, and decorative leaves hanging from the ceiling. There is a reading nook with pillows near a window in the background.

2008

The Children’s Book Bank opened its first location at 350 Berkeley Street in Toronto, offering a selection of new and gently used books collected through school and community book drives. 
 
“I wanted to create an oasis, a magical place that kids associate with reading,” said The Children’s Book Bank founder, Kim Beatty.

Woman holding a children's book titled 'Danny and the Blue Cloud' with a bear illustration on the cover, sitting in front of a floral curtain.

2020-21

To support our community during the COVID-19 lockdown, The Children’s Book Bank offered curbside book pick-ups and a variety of online programs including:

  • Bookworms program—an online book club to to keep kids engaged and connected

  • Weekly Mental Health Storytimes on YouTube in collaboration with local authors and students from the University of Toronto

People unloading green bins from a white moving truck on a city street on a sunny day, with a red brick building and leafless trees in the background.

2022

In February 2022, The Children’s Book Bank moved from its original location at 350 Berkeley Street to our beautiful space at Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park. This relocation came about as a result of the tremendous efforts of staff, volunteers and financial donors.

A woman reads a children's book aloud to a group of children in a bookstore or library, with some children sitting on the floor and others at a table with coloring supplies.

2022

Opened on August 20, 2022, the Sherbourne Book Bank has quickly established itself as a vital community space in the St. James Town neighbourhood. It serves as a crucial point of connection and support for many newcomers, for whom this area is often their first home in Canada, helping them build essential local networks.

A display shelf with books about Indigenous voices and stories, including titles like 'Seagull Island,' 'Benjamin's Thundersorm,' 'Kaia's Garden,' 'Smile So Big,' 'Between the Pipes,' and posters for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

2023

In 2023, we established a Diverse Books Fund and Inclusion Project with the mission of expanding our culturally relevant books and programming.

Having access to books that celebrate children’s identities, cultural celebrations, and personal values is essential to nurturing young, enthusiastic readers.

Thanks to a generous project grant, we have been able to supplement our book donations by purchasing books that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Children sitting on a purple carpet, listening to a story being read by a woman in a library or bookstore. Shelves filled with books and plush toys, with colorful decorations and a large stuffed giraffe.

2024

The Children's Book Bank officially opened its Morningside location in June 2024, marking the first of the new spaces in our expansion project.

We saw a major need for literacy support in Scarborough, where up to 30% of all books from our Books Across the City program were already being distributed. Recognizing this strong demand, we were eager to open a dedicated physical location to better support families in the area.

A woman reads a children's book to a group of children sitting on a pink and white carpet in a library or bookstore. The background features bookshelves, a colorful mural, and signs indicating a children's book bank.

2025

Since opening at Yorkgate Mall early in 2025, our Jane & Finch location has become an important community fixture and our busiest location, giving away an average of 141 books each day.

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK BANK’S FOUNDING MEMBERS

Kim Beatty

Willa Black

Jocelyn Barford

Jane Crist

Nancy Evans

Janet MacPhail

Joanne Browne

Kathy Martin

Janet Newlands

Diane Rhind

Nora Spence

Louise Sugar