- Canada's largest free book distribution program for school-aged kids kicks off today -

• 550,000+ copies of Mr. Zinger's Hat to be given away as part of TD Grade One Book Giveaway! @TDNews_Canada has more: http://bit.ly/1xKEVNK Tweet this)
• 8 million+ books given out since 2000 as part of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway. @TDNews_Canada has the details: http://bit.ly/1xKEVNK Tweet this)

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Kids will have another reason to fall in love with reading this fall as TD Bank Group and The Canadian Children's Book Centre deliver more than 550,000 free books to schools and communities across Canada as part of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway. Throughout October and November, kids will have the opportunity to take home a copy of Mr. Zinger's Hat, written by award-winning author Cary Fagen and award-winning illustrator Dušan Petričič, to enjoy with their family. Since the program started in 2000, more than eight million Canadian children's books have been distributed from coast to coast.

"Part of instilling a passion for reading is simply getting books into the hands of school-aged children. We see this as part of our commitment to children's literacy across Canada," says Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. "Millions of books have been read by children across the country as a result of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway and we are very proud to be part of the reading experience for so many Canadian families."

Mr. Zinger's Hat is an enchanting tale about stories. After an exciting chase to retrieve a hat blown away by the wind, a little boy named Leo meets Mr. Zinger, the owner of the hat. Mr. Zinger suspects that a story is trying to escape from his hat and so he and Leo spin a tale that changes both of them forever.

"Whether at school, at home or in libraries, reading can have a tremendous impact on young children, while helping develop lifelong skills and stretching imaginations to new heights," says Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director, The Canadian Children's Book Centre. "We are proud to partner with TD on such a transformative program and know kids and their families will love the story told through Mr. Zinger's Hat."

To bring Mr. Zinger's Hat to life, in early November Cary Fagen and Dušan Petričič will visit elementary schools and libraries across Canada to give live readings for grade one students. More information, a full schedule of the public readings and an illustrated video of the book can be found at tdreads.com.

About TD's Commitment to Children's Literacy
The ability to read is often taken for granted. This skill is paramount to success during school years and beyond, which is why TD believes it's important to get children reading and to foster a lifelong joy of reading. Since 2000, TD has invested more than $35 million to support literacy and reading programs at local schools and public libraries across Canada. tdreads.com

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

SOURCE TD Bank Group