Toronto Public Library Announces 2012 First & Best Booklist

List names this year's top ten Canadian books for building reading readiness in preschool kids

TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Toronto Public Library today announced its sixth annual First & Best Booklist, the highly anticipated selection of the year's best in Canadian books for children from birth to age five that are fun to read and help build early literacy skills.

This year's list includes some of Canada's top children's authors and illustrators, including Jeremy Tankard (It's a Tiger!), Cary Fagan and Dušan Petričić (Mr. Zinger's Hat), Robert Heidbreder (Noisy Poems for a Busy Day) and Sarah Tsiang (The Stone Hatchlings).

The library's annual First & Best list is part of its Ready for Reading early literacy initiative - a comprehensive set of free high-quality programs, services and resources that supports reading readiness in children from birth to five years.

"The titles on our First & Best Booklist have been carefully chosen by our expert children's librarians as our country's best this year that help develop important early literacy skills," said Lisa Heggum, Children and Youth Advocate for the Toronto Public Library. "Countless studies have shown that spending time reading with your preschool child instils a lifelong love of reading, and opens up countless doors and opportunities in a child's life. I trust parents and caregivers will enjoy sharing these wonderful books with their children again and again."

All the books in this year's First & Best list are available via torontopubliclibrary.ca and at library branches across the city. To find out more about Ready for Reading, visit torontopubliclibrary.ca/readyforreading or inquire at any branch.

The First & Best for 2012 are:

Animal Masquerade
Marianne Dubuc
Kids Can Press

Canada in Words
Per-Henrik Gürth
Kids Can Press

Extra Yarn
Mac Barnett
Illus. Jon Klassen
Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins Publisher

I Can Do It Myself!  and Now I Am Big!
Stephen Krensky
Illus. Sara Gillingham
Abrams Appleseed

It's a Tiger!
David LaRochelle
Illus. Jeremy Tankard
Chronicle Books

Kiss, Tickle, Cuddle, Hug
Susan Musgrave
Orca Book Publishers

Mr. Zinger's Hat
Cary Fagan
Illus. Dušan Petričić
Tundra Books

Noisy Poems for a Busy Day
Robert Heidbreder
Illus. Lori Joy Smith
Kids Can Press

The Stone Hatchlings
Sarah Tsiang
Illus. Qin Leng
Annick Press

Toads on Toast
Linda Bailey
Illus. Colin Jack
Kids Can Press

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow over 33 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at 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

SOURCE: Toronto Public Library

Media Contact: 
Melanie Boatswain-Watson 416-397-5936
[email protected]