Toronto Public Library and Kumon Math and Reading Centres partner to offer Great Reads for Kids

Year-long initiative includes booklist with over 200 reading recommendations for kids ages 6-12

TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Toronto Public Library (TPL) has partnered with Kumon after-school Math and Reading Centres to produce Great Reads for Kids, a booklist with over 200 recommended books for kids ages six to 12, carefully selected by TPL children's staff. The 48-page booklet, available in Toronto Public Library branches and Toronto Kumon Math and Reading Centres starting November 14, also includes tips for parents and caregivers about creating reading-friendly homes, how to nurture a reader and much more.

"When it comes to recommending top reads to kids within our libraries, there's no one more qualified than our children's staff," said Cheryl Skovronek, Children's Services Manager at Toronto Public Library. "The books featured in Great Reads for Kids are all recently published and cover a broad range of topics and interests. We're thrilled to welcome Kumon as a partner for this initiative as both organizations are committed to fostering a love of reading and learning in kids everywhere."

In addition to the Great Reads booklet, the initiative also includes three themed booklists for kids, published seasonally, and an outreach package, distributed at Kumon Centres, that encourage library card registration for families. Kumon is also the supporter of Family Storytime, Saturday morning programs that feature stories, songs and rhymes for kids five years of age and under and their families at various TPL locations.

"Kumon founder, Toru Kumon, strongly believed in opening up new worlds to children through books and helping them connect with what they're reading is the first step to nurturing a love of books," says Lyndsay Lowman, Brand Communications Manager at Kumon Canada. "The Great Reads for Kids initiative with Toronto Public Library is the perfect fit to impact the children reading in our centres and in our communities."

"At Toronto Public Library, we recognize the incredible value of partnerships like the one with Kumon," said Julie Flynn-Still, Director, Development and Strategic Partnerships, Toronto Public Library Foundation. "Through their generous support of Great Reads for Kids, we're able to spread the word not only about great books, but also the benefits of fostering a life-long love of reading in children."

The Great Reads partnership will officially kick off with a Family Storytime in library branches across the city on Saturday, November 21.

Toronto Public Library is one of the world's busiest urban public library systems. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131. To get the most current updates on what's happening at the library, follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.

Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children so they can achieve more on their own. Founded in Japan in 1958, the learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration and develop better study skills. Kumon has 26,000 centres in 48 countries and more than four million students studying worldwide. Kumon Canada's head office is in Vaughan, Ontario. Visit www.kumon.ca to learn more or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Kumon.

SOURCE Toronto Public Library

Media Contacts: For TPL, Melanie Boatswain-Watson, [email protected], 416-397-5971; For Kumon Canada, Ali Azzopardi - Citizen Relations, [email protected], 416-306-6650