- More than 500,000 children are expected to participate in this year's program -

TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2012 /CNW/ - Grade one students across Canada will receive a gift this month to help encourage and instill the joy of reading at a young age. TD Bank Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) are distributing more than 500,000 copies of I've Lost My Cat, written and illustrated by Philippe Béha as part of the 13^th annual TD Grade One Book Giveaway program. The TD Grade One Book Giveaway is the largest free book distribution program to school-aged children in Canada. The program has distributed more than five million books to grade one students coast-to-coast since its inception.

This year's selection, I've Lost My Cat is a delightful tale about a young boy who loses his cat - he's round, he's cute, he's yellow, black and white, and his name is Greyling. The boy's friends all try to find Greyling and they bring the young boy all sorts of animals that somewhat match the description of his cat.

"When writing and illustrating I've Lost My Cat, I imagined children laughing and turning the pages," says Philippe Béha. "However, I never would have thought that over 500,000 children would get the opportunity to do that, which is a real joy for me! I'm very happy to be part of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway program, which promotes greater access to children's literature."

"TD is passionate about children's literacy, and this program allows us to help inspire children to discover a love for reading and hopefully, build strong reading habits in the future," says Frank McKenna, TD Bank Group's Deputy Chair and Literacy Champion. "It is our hope that by owning a copy of an enchanting book like I've Lost My Cat, it will help get grade one students excited about reading at an early age."

"We are grateful to TD for their support and dedication to children's literacy and the opportunity to positively impact so many children across the country," says Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director, Canadian Children's Book Centre. "We hope that I've Lost My Cat encourages the imaginations of young children across Canada."

Together, the CCBC and TD share the dedication to improving literacy among Canada's children. To learn more about the TD Grade One Book Giveaway and other children's literature initiatives through the CCBC, visit www.bookcentre.ca.

TD Community Giving
TD Bank Group invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2011, TD Bank Group donated over $66 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.

About The Canadian Children's Book Centre
The Canadian Children's Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization and registered charity founded in 1976 to promote, support and encourage the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for children and teens. With book collections and extensive resources in five cities across Canada, the CCBC is a treasure-trove for anyone interested in Canadian books for young readers. For more information, please visit www.bookcentre.ca.

SOURCE: TD Bank Group