Our Story
The CCBC was formed in 1976 with the belief that all Canadians should have the opportunity to read books created by Canadian authors and illustrators. Almost fifty years later, we’re still guided by this same belief. Since our founding, we’ve become a key player in the growing world of Canadian children’s books. Each of our programs are accessible across Canada, reaching cities and remote communities alike.
12M+
We’ve given out 12 million books to first grade students.
28,000
Canadian Children's Book Week reaches 28,000 youth annually.
8,000+
Canadian Children's Book News has featured over 8,000 book reviews.
$175,000+
We provide $175,000+ to Canadian creators each year across nine unique awards.
Our mission is to bring together Canadian books and young readers to foster a lifelong love of reading.
Our vision is to give all Canadians the opportunity to read books created by Canadian authors and illustrators.
We work to ensure Canadian children and youth see themselves in the stories they read.
When Canadian creators tell their stories, they capture experiences unique to the cultures, identities, and geographies that make up our country. Giving Canadian children and youth access to these diverse stories helps them see their own experiences represented in the books they read.
We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion must always be at the core of Canadian children’s literature.
Canadian books should help all children feel a sense of belonging in their communities. This can only happen if we collectively amplify the voices that are under-represented in the creation, publishing, and promotion of Canadian children’s literature. The CCBC is committed to elevating voices from queer communities, racialized communities, religious minorities, and people living with both visible and invisible disabilities. To ensure our work is contributing to a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Canada, we’ve placed these values at the centre of each of our programs.
Our Book Awards recognizes books that have made a significant contribution to excellence in Canadian children’s literature. In administering these awards, we consider the celebration of diversity and representation to be an essential part of achieving excellence.
Our yearly TD Grade One Book Giveaway program provides Grade 1 students across Canada with a free book. We choose Canadian books that represent diverse voices and carry a message of inclusion, helping thousands of children to explore these topics at home and in their classrooms.
We have an ongoing commitment to feature authors with diverse backgrounds and identities in our magazines. These publications and newsletters provide book recommendations to parents and teachers, ensuring Canadian children have better access to more diverse and inclusive stories.
Our work includes a wide range of programs, awards, and resources:
Canadian Children’s Book Week and the TD Grade One Book Giveaway introduce thousands of young Canadians to new books each year—as well as the authors and illustrators who create them.
Our magazine Canadian Children’s Book News gives updates on the world of Canadian children’s literature, and our Best Books for Kids & Teens selection guide helps subscribers choose the right book for their young readers. Our Bibliovideo channel features a wealth of engaging content to help kids and teens grow their love of reading.
Your support helps us distribute books directly to children, assist creators, and host events across Canada.
Here’s how you can get involved:
