Easy, everyday, early literacy support
Library programs for kids 5 and under
Design a Bookmark Contest
Congrats to the 2026 winners! Created by kids, these bookmarks are now available at a branch near you. Collect all 16 designs!
Passover Books for Kids
Get ready to celebrate with these books recommended by our children's librarians.
Easter Books for Kids
Hop into reading fun with eggcellent stories and crafts!
Browse Books
Browse our best books for children under 5, and get expert staff recommendations. Encouraging a love of books is a great way to help your child get ready for reading.
Tips For Parents
Sing throughout the day and make up your own silly songs to introduce new vocabulary.
Let's Get Ready for Reading!
Easy, everyday activities that you do with your child help to build important pre-reading skills.
Talk
Talking with your child helps build language and vocabulary skills.
Read
Reading together is the best way to help your child become a strong reader.
Sing
Singing helps your child hear the sounds in words and build their vocabulary.
Play
Play is how children learn, and how they come to understand their world.
Write
Writing helps children learn that letters and words represent sounds and have meaning.
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First and Best
Discover our top picks of Canadian picture books to get your child ready for reading.
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Dial-a-Story
Call 416-395-5400 anytime and listen to stories in 16 different languages.
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Ready for Reading Research
Learn more about early literacy research.