Kids and authors come together to celebrate reading for TD Canadian Children's Book Week

From May 2 to May 9, Canadian children's authors, illustrators and storytellers will embark on a cross-country tour to share stories and captivate the imaginations of children and teens

TORONTO, April 23, 2015 /CNW/ - To instill a passion for reading and to promote literacy among children, TD Bank Group, in partnership with the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC), will host the 38th annual TD Canadian Children's Book Week from May 2 to 9, 2015. Throughout the week, 29 authors, illustrators and storytellers will visit hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres across Canada to read from their books and share with children the pleasures of reading writing, illustrating and storytelling. This year's theme, Hear Our Stories: Celebrating First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, celebrates stories published by and about members of Aboriginal communities.

"We are thrilled that with TD's support, celebrated Canadian authors, illustrators and storytellers will be able to interact with Canadian youth across the country to encourage literacy and creativity," says Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director, The Canadian Children's Book Centre. "We look forward to sharing this exciting week with children and their families, and encourage everyone to get involved and take advantage of the fun."

TD Bank Group is also partnering with the National Reading Campaign on naming Charlottetown the official Reading Town in Canada for 2015. Presented in collaboration with the PEI Literacy Alliance and Confederation Centre Public Library, Reading Town will host its own special celebration of reading, during which citizens of the city will weave reading into different aspects of their lives, such as delivering pizza with a poem.

"TD Canadian Children's Book Week and Reading Town are about celebrating the power of storytelling to enrich our lives," says Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. "Each year, we are delighted by the excitement and enthusiasm children have for the chance to connect with authors and illustrators, and we look forward to the opportunity to highlight Aboriginal communities and their stories."

Now in its 38th year, TD Canadian Children's Book Week is a celebration of children's books and the importance of reading. Each year, hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres host events as part of this major literary festival, engaging more than 28,000 children, teens and adults in every province and territory across Canada. For more information about the program, to see the full tour schedule, or to find out how to host readings in your community next year, please visit www.bookweek.ca and www.tdreads.com.

About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves more than 24 million customers in three key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Retail, including TD Canada Trust, TD Auto Finance Canada, TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in TD Ameritrade; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with approximately 9.7 million active online and mobile customers. TD had CDN$1.1 trillion in assets on January 31, 2015. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

About TD Community Giving
TD Bank Group invests in communities in order to affect positive change in the places where it operates and where its customers and employees live and work. In 2014, TD donated more than $82 million to community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, TD focuses on education and financial literacy, creating opportunities for young people and the environment. For further information, please visit www.td.com/corporate-responsibility.

About The Canadian Children's Book Centre
The Canadian Children's Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers. For more information, please visit www.bookcentre.ca.

SOURCE TD Bank Group