INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
Contact: Leigh A. Poirier or
Janet Hetherington
613-228-3155
25 GREAT BOOKS:
NEW INITIATIVE
FROM THE CANADIAN TOY TESTING COUNCIL
PROMOTES LITERACY
OTTAWA - November 14, 2001 - When you're giving toys as gifts to children this year, seriously consider giving books too. For the first time ever, the Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC), the leading authority on toys in Canada, has used its rigorous evaluation process to select 25 Great Books for Children by Canadian creators and publishers.
The CTTC is recommending these books as part of a Literacy Project undertaken with the support of the Canadian Literacy Secretariat. The resulting publication has been written in "clear language" so that parents - even parents with low-literacy skills - can use it to choose good books for their children to read.
The books range from picture books to novels to non-fiction or science-based fact books. The diversity of titles shows that there are books available to appeal to every child.
"All books participating in this program were read and evaluated by numerous children and their parents using the Canadian Toy Testing Council's comprehensive evaluation criteria," said Leigh Poirier, CTTC Executive Director. "The choices were not easy. I'm pleased to say that there are many excellent books by Canadians available for children to read. This list is just a beginning."
The Council produced a 16-page bilingual brochure that lists the 25 great books and provides basic tips for helping children develop a love of reading. Examples of the tips include:
The brochure advises parents to take the list of books to the library or bookstore and ask about the recommended books. The books on the list cost about $5-$25, but the brochure notes that the library will loan out books.
The Council announced the 25 Great Books for Children at its annual press conference, held in the Adam Room of the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa. The bilingual printed publication will be available at libraries across Canada as well as through the Canadian Child Care Federation and the Canadian Toy Testing Council. Complete results are also available to Canadian consumers via the Internet on the Canadian Toy Testing Council's web site (www.toy-testing.org).
25 GREAT BOOKS
FOR CHILDREN:
Chosen by the Children of the Canadian Toy Testing Council 2001
The Kids Can Press French & English Phrase Book, by Chantal Lacourcière with art by Linda Hendry; Kids Can Press, 1999, ISBN 1-55074-477-1; Ages 5-12
Monsieur Il était unefois · Mr. Once-upon-a-time, by Rémy Simard with art by Pierre Pratt; Annick Press Ltd., 1998, ISBN 1-55037-544-X & 1-5507-538-5; Ages 4-7
Mystery At Lake Placid (The Screech Owls Series), by Roy MacGregor; McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1995, ISBN 0-7710-5625-7; Ages 9+
Munschworks 2: The Second Munsch Treasury, by Robert Munsch with art by Michael Martchencho & Hélène Desputeau; Annick Press Ltd., 1999, ISBN 1-5507-553-9; Ages 4-7
La Fusée du petit géant, by Gilles Tibo with art by Jean Bernèche; Québec Amérique Jeunesse (Mini-Bilbo), 1998, ISBN 2-89037-841-1; Ages 3+
You Asked? Over 300 Great Questions and Astounding Answers (Owl Magazine), edited by Katherine Ferris; Greely de Pencier Books Inc., (Owl Books), 1996, ISBN 1-895688-59-0; Ages 8+
Jillian Jiggs and the Secret Surprise · La surprise de Lili Tire-Bouchon, by Pheobe Gillman; North Winds Press, 1999 & Les Éditions Scholastic, ISBN 0590-51578-0 & 0-590-5154-5; Ages 3-8
A Midsummer Night's Dream For Kids, by Lois Burdett with art by children; Firefly Books Ltd., 1997, ISBN 1-55209-124-4; Ages 7+
Pas d'école! · Snow Day, by Werner Zimmerman; Les Éditions Scholastic, 1999 & Scholastic Canada Ltd., ISBN 059051568-3 & 0-439-98918-3; Ages 3+
Before &
After: A Book Of Nature Timescapes, by Jan Thornhill; Greely de Pencier
Books Inc.,
(Owl Books), 1997, ISBN 1-895688-61-2; Ages 4+
Downtown Lost & Found (New Reader Series), by Frank B. Edwards with art by John Bianchi; Bungalo Books / Pokeweed Press, 1997, ISBN 0-921285-50-7; Ages 4-6
Laughs, edited by Claire Mackay; Tundra Books, 1997, ISBN 0-88776-393-6; Ages 10-14
Les Fantaisies d'Adèle · Stephanie's Ponytail, by Robert Munsch with art by Michael Martchenko; La court échelle, 1997 & Annick Press Ltd., 1998, ISBN 2-89021-284-X & 1-55037-484-2; Ages 4-7
The Nose from Jupiter, by Richard Scrimger; McClelland & Stewart Inc. (Tundra Books), 1998, ISBN 0-88776-428-2; Ages 8-11
A Drop of Gold, by Vlasta van Kampen; Annick Press Ltd., 2001, ISBN 1-55037-676-4; Ages 2-5
Why? The best ever question and answer book about science, nature and the world around you, by Catherine Ripley with art by Scot Ritchie; Greely de Pencier Books Inc., (Owl Books), 2001, ISBN 1-894379-25-X; Ages 3-8
The Party · Quelle belle fête!, by Barbara Reid; Scholastic Canada Ltd., 1997, ISBN 0-590-12428-5 & 0-590-12394-7; Ages 3+
Fog Cat, by Marilyn Helmer with art by Paul Mombourquette; Kids Can Press, 1997, ISBN 1-55074-460-7; Ages 3-7
Yuck, A Love Story, by Don Gillmore with art by Marie-Louise Gay; Stoddart Kids, 2000, ISBN 0-7737-3218-7; Ages 4-8
Sins of the Father · Crime à Haverstock, by Norah McClintock; Scholastic Canada Ltd., 1998 & Les Éditions Hurtubise HMH, ISBN 0-590-12488-9 & 2-89428-448-9; Ages 10-14
Tiger's New Cowboy Boots, by Irene Morck with art by Georgia Graham; Red Deer College Press (Northern Lights), 1996, ISBN 0-88995-153-5; Ages 4-8
Wild Cameron Women, by Maureen Hull with art by Judith Christine Mills; Stoddart Kids, 2000, ISBN 0-7737-3219-5; Ages 4-8
Whose Bright Idea Was It? True Stories of Invention, by Larry Verstraete with art by John Etheridge; Scholastic Canada Ltd., 1997, ISBN 059024905-3; Ages 8+
Vieux Thomas et la petite fée · Old Thomas and the Little Fairy, by Dominique Demers with art by Stéphane Poulin; Dominique et compagnie, 2000, ISBN 2-89512-139-7 & 1-894363-45-0; Ages 4+
Franklin's Classic Treasury, by Paulette Bourgeois with art by Brenda Clark; Kids Can Press, 1999, ISBN 1-55074-742-8; Ages 4+
The Canadian Toy Testing Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Canadian families, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2002. CTTC representatives will be available for interviews by telephone to discuss this year's honorees and the importance of reading.