Canadian Children's Book Centre

The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Canadian books and literature for children and young people. Established in 1976, it works with parents, teachers, librarians, educators, writers, illustrators, publishers, schools, libraries, and young readers across Canada. Rather than operating primarily as a commercial publisher or bookseller, the Centre functions as an advocacy, information, programming, and recognition organization for Canadian children's literature. The CCBC's activities combine public programming, professional information services, reading promotion, educational outreach, and awards. Its best-known public initiative is Canadian Children's Book Week, established in 1977. Held each spring, the program brings Canadian authors, illustrators, and storytellers into schools, libraries, and communities for readings, workshops, and related activities. Events may take place in person or virtually and are intended to connect young readers directly with creators. The program reaches tens of thousands of children and teenagers annually, according to the Centre's published description. The organization also administers the TD Grade One Book Giveaway Program, launched in 2000 in cooperation with education ministries, school boards, and library organizations. The program distributes a free English- or French-language book to Grade One students across Canada, with the stated annual distribution reaching approximately 500,000 books. This initiative gives the Centre a direct role in early reading access and national literacy promotion. Recognition of Canadian creators is another important part of the CCBC's work. With sponsors and partners, it administers or supports a group of national children's book awards covering literary fiction, picture books, historical fiction, teen fiction, first novels, science fiction and fantasy, poetry, and other forms of writing and illustration. The Centre has also taken on administration of the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award, a prize associated with themes of compassion and kindness, beginning in 2024. Several awards formerly associated with the Centre are no longer listed among its current awards. The CCBC supports the children's publishing ecosystem through publications and reference resources. Canadian Children's Book News is a triannual magazine featuring reviews, author and illustrator interviews, annotated reading lists, and coverage of issues affecting children's education and reading. Best Books for Kids & Teens is a semi-annual selection guide for parents, teachers, librarians, educators, and writers; its selections are made by expert committees. The Centre has also produced Get Published: The Writing for Children Kit, a practical resource for aspiring writers and illustrators covering submissions, copyright, portfolios, and Canadian publishers. The organization maintains library collections and a national office in Toronto, with collections or related holdings associated with Canadian cities including Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Halifax. Its national role is bilingual in scope, reflected in the availability of English- and French-language programming, books, and awards. Overall, the CCBC's positioning is that of a national cultural and educational intermediary: it increases access to Canadian children's literature, gives creators visibility, helps adults select books, and connects the publishing community with young readers.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre was founded in 1976 as a national organization focused on strengthening the presence and use of Canadian literature for children and young people. Its remit developed around the needs of several interconnected audiences: young readers, families, schools, libraries, educators, and the creators and publishers responsible for Canadian children's books. From the beginning, the organization was oriented toward national cultural and educational service rather than commercial publishing. In 1977, the Centre established Canadian Children's Book Week. The annual spring event became its principal national outreach program, bringing authors, illustrators, and storytellers into schools, libraries, and other community settings. Through readings, workshops, and discussions, the program provides children and teenagers with direct contact with Canadian creators. It has also adapted to virtual participation, allowing the initiative to reach communities beyond locations served by in-person tours. The program's stated annual reach is more than 28,000 children and teens. The CCBC expanded its access and literacy work in 2000 with the creation of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway Program. Developed in cooperation with provincial or territorial education ministries, school boards, and library organizations, the program was designed to place a book directly in the hands of every Grade One student in Canada. The initiative distributes books in English or French and has grown into a large-scale annual giveaway, with approximately 500,000 books distributed each year according to the Centre's published information. It represents a shift from promotion alone toward direct support for household and classroom reading access. Awards became another major component of the organization's national role. Working with sponsors, the Centre has recognized Canadian authors and illustrators across multiple forms of children's and young adult literature. Its award portfolio includes the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and its French-language counterpart, the Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l'enfance et la jeunesse, as well as awards for picture books, historical fiction, teen literature, first novels, science fiction and fantasy, and poetry. The Centre has also been associated with awards that were later discontinued or transferred, including prizes for Canadian nonfiction, mystery, science fiction and fantasy, and French-language picture books. In 2024, it took over administration of the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award, extending its role as an administrator of national recognition programs. The organization has supported informed book selection and professional knowledge through publications. Canadian Children's Book News is issued three times a year and combines reviews, interviews, annotated reading recommendations, and reporting on children's education and reading. Best Books for Kids & Teens is issued twice annually and provides a curated selection of Canadian books, magazines, audio material, and video for parents, teachers, librarians, and writers. The selections are prepared by committees of educators, teachers, and librarians. For people seeking to enter the field, Get Published: The Writing for Children Kit explains manuscript and portfolio submissions, copyright matters, and the Canadian publishers that accept unsolicited work. The CCBC's infrastructure includes a national office in Toronto and library collections or related holdings in several Canadian cities, including Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Halifax. Its work is national and bilingual in practical scope, reflecting Canada's English- and French-language children's publishing communities. Across its history, the Centre has therefore operated as an intermediary connecting creators, institutions, and readers: it promotes books, helps adults discover suitable titles, creates opportunities for author engagement, supports early access to reading, and gives public recognition to Canadian children's literature.

• 2024

  Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award administration transferred to the Centre

  [1]Canadian Children's Book Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Centre began administering the award, which recognizes books featuring themes of compassion and kindness.

• 2000

  TD Grade One Book Giveaway Program established

  [1]Canadian Children's Book Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A national program was created to provide every Grade One student in Canada with a free book in English or French.

• 1977

  Canadian Children's Book Week launched

  [1]Canadian Children's Book Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Centre began its annual national celebration connecting Canadian authors, illustrators, storytellers, and young readers through school and library events.

• 1976

  Canadian Children's Book Centre founded

  [1]Canadian Children's Book Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The national nonprofit organization was established to promote quality Canadian literature for children and young people.

A national nonprofit champion of Canadian children's and young adult literature, positioned between cultural advocacy, literacy promotion, education, library services, and creator support.

• National reading and author-outreach program · 1977

  Canadian Children's Book Week

  An annual spring celebration of Canadian books for children and young people. Authors, illustrators, and storytellers visit schools, libraries, and communities to give readings, lead workshops, and speak with young readers. The program uses both in-person and virtual events and reaches more than 28,000 children and teenagers each year according to the Centre's published description.

• Literacy and book-access program · 2000

  TD Grade One Book Giveaway Program

  A national giveaway created with education ministries, school boards, and library organizations. It provides Grade One students with a free book in English or French and is described as distributing approximately 500,000 books annually across Canada.

• Literary awards

  Canadian National Children's Book Awards

  A group of awards recognizing Canadian authors and illustrators in categories including children's literature, French-language children's literature, picture books, historical fiction, teen fiction, first novels, science fiction and fantasy, and poetry. Current and former awards have included substantial sponsor-supported prizes, with amounts varying by award and period.

• Magazine and information publication

  Canadian Children's Book News

  A triannual publication covering Canadian children's books through reviews, author and illustrator interviews, annotated reading lists, and discussion of issues affecting children's education and reading.

• Book-selection guide

  Best Books for Kids & Teens

  A semi-annual guide for parents, teachers, librarians, educators, and writers. It presents selected Canadian children's and young adult books, magazines, audio materials, and video chosen by committees of teachers, educators, and librarians.

• Publishing advice resource

  Get Published: The Writing for Children Kit

  A resource for emerging children's writers and illustrators that explains manuscript and portfolio submissions, copyright procedures, and Canadian publishers that accept unsolicited work.

• 2000TD Grade One Book Giveaway Program

  Canada

  A national access-to-reading initiative giving Grade One students a free English- or French-language book.

  Outcome. The program distributes approximately 500,000 books annually, according to the Centre's published description.

  Source
• 1977Canadian Children's Book Week

  Canada

  A national spring campaign promoting Canadian books through creator visits, readings, workshops, and community events for children and teenagers.

  Outcome. The program became the organization's largest annual celebration of Canadian children's literature and reaches more than 28,000 young people each year according to published information.

  Source

• 2024

  Assumption of Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award administrationStrategy

  Background

  The Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award had previously been presented by the Rocky Mountain Book Award.

  Action taken

  The Canadian Children's Book Centre took over administration of the award and incorporated it into its broader national awards role.

  Aftermath

  The award continued to recognize children's books addressing compassion and kindness under the Centre's administration.

  Source

• 2024

  Canadian Children's Book Centre takes over administration of the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award[1]Canadian Children's Book Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Centre assumed responsibility for administering the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award, a prize recognizing children's books associated with compassion and kindness and previously presented by the Rocky Mountain Book Award.

1. 1Canadian Children's Book Centreen.wikipedia.org