Book giveaway program introduces students to the joy of reading

    TORONTO, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - Promoting the pleasure of reading and the
importance of literacy are two of the reasons behind TD Canadian Children's
Book Week, taking place from November 15 to November 22, 2008. This week, The
Canadian Children's Book Centre will distribute nearly 500,000 copies of Too
Many Books by renowned children's author Gilles Tibo and illustrator Bruno
St-Aubin to grade one students across Canada courtesy of TD Bank Financial
Group.
    "It is always important to reinforce the value of reading as a source of
enjoyment and knowledge, but especially now when children are exposed to so
many more options like video games and the Internet," said Frank McKenna,
Deputy Chair, TD Bank Financial Group and TD's Literacy Champion. "TD is proud
to support the largest free book distribution program to school-aged children
in the country. Our hope is this will encourage young people to keep reading."
    Since TD Bank Financial Group became the title sponsor of Canadian
Children's Book Week in 2000, it has provided more than four million books to
grade one students across Canada.
    Too Many Books is a story about a boy named Nicholas who receives a book
every time he tries to do something - whether it be tying his shoelaces or
riding his bike. Each book he receives explains how to do the activity
correctly. Nicholas grows tired of reading books telling him what to do and
when he visits the library with his friend Veronica, she shows him that
reading can be fun. Nicholas soon learns that with a simple turn of a page,
new and exciting adventures can take place.
    "Thanks to the generous contribution from TD Bank Financial Group, we are
able to use this wonderful story to help turn children onto reading at an
early age," said Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director, Canadian Children's
Book Centre. "We hope that Too Many Books will encourage children to enjoy
reading and foster the development of a life-long passion and appreciation for
literature."
    Last month, TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian Children's Book
Centre celebrated Canadian children's literature during the fourth annual TD
Canadian Children's Literature Awards. Christopher Paul Curtis's Elijah of
Buxton was recognized as the most distinguished English-language book while
Gilles Vigneault and Stéphane Jorisch received the most distinguished
French-language book award for Un Cadeau pour Sophie (A Gift for Sophie). Each
winner received $20,000, one of the largest prizes for Canadian children's
literature.

    About the Canadian Children's Book Centre

    The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) is a national, not-for-profit
organization, founded in 1976 to encourage, promote and support the reading,
writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. The CCBC's
programs, publications and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers
and parents select the very best for young readers. For more information,
visit www.bookcentre.ca.

    TD Community Giving: Making a Difference Together

    Children's health, literacy and education, and the environment are the
three main areas of focus for TD's community giving. Flagship programs within
these areas include: TD Children's Hospital Fund; TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation; TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup; TD Canadian
Children's Book Week; TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership;
and the TD Summer Reading Club. With support from customers and employees, TD
is involved with a host of national, regional and local causes benefiting
diversity, arts and culture and other community programs. In 2007, TD donated
$33 million to more than 2,000 organizations across Canada.

For further information: Gregory Harrison, TD Bank Financial Group,
(416) 308-8597, gregory.harrison@td.com; Stephanie Sayer, GCI Group on behalf
of TDBFG and the CCBC, (416) 486-5921, ssayer@gcigroup.com