- Largest annual free book program distributes nearly 5 million books -

TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2011 /CNW/ - Canada's grade one students will receive a gift this month to help instil a joy of reading at a young age.  TD Bank Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) have teamed up for the 12^th consecutive year to distribute more than 500,000 copies of Gifts, written by Jo Ellen Bogart and illustrated by Barbara Reid. The TD Grade One Book Giveaway is the largest free book distribution program to school-aged children in Canada, its mission - to put a book in the hands of every child.  Since 2000, the program has distributed nearly 5 million books to grade one students coast-to-coast.

Gifts is the story of a grandmother who travels around the world and brings her granddaughter unusual souvenirs. She travels from Australia to the Arctic and many places in between and asks her granddaughter what gifts she would like from each country. Some of her granddaughter's atypical answers include: a piece of the sky, an iceberg on a string and a roar from the jungle king.

"I'm a naturally curious person, which is why I wrote Gifts," said Jo Ellen Bogart, author. "My hope is that Gifts can help young children - especially Canada's grade one children - understand and appreciate different cultures around the world that they might not normally learn about."

Barbara Reid, author and illustrator, created the plasticine masterpieces found in Gifts. Reid has won numerous awards for books over the years, including three for Gifts. Both Bogart and Reid will be touring Canada with Gifts throughout the fall months. The tour will make stops in several cities across Canada.

"Reading plays a very significant role in developing young minds and inspiring youth," says Frank McKenna, TD Bank Group's Deputy Chair and Literacy Champion. "Having their own beautifully written and illustrated book, like Gifts, helps children to discover a passion for reading at an early age."

"Thanks to TD's support and dedication to children's literacy, we can help children across the country to discover a love of reading," says Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director, Canadian Children's Book Centre. "We hope that Gifts encourages the imaginations of young children across Canada and teaches them about the joy of reading."

Together, the CCBC and TD Bank Group 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 2010, TD Bank Group donated over $50 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.

Image with caption: "Grade One students listen to writer Jo-Ellen Bogart read from her book Gifts, which features the work of illustrator Barbara Reid (not shown). As part of the Grade One Book Giveaway, now in its 12th year, TD Bank Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre will distribute more than 500,000 copies of the book to grade one students across Canada, making it the largest free book distribution program to school-aged children in the country. (CNW Group/TD Community Giving)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111013_C3716_PHOTO_EN_4440.jpg