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How's your summer going? It's not over yet! There's still time to bike, camp, picnic, stargaze and swim. Or maybe you'll bake cookies... or build a birdhouse... or put on a puppet show. Need inspiration? Read on! 

1. Complete all the Summer Wonder and TD Summer Reading Club challenges in Beanstack 

Did you attend a program at the library this summer? Visit Fun Stuff here on TPL Kids? That counts towards the badges you can earn in the Beanstack app! Even if you've already finished collecting all the badges, there are still activities you could do again. Read a book outside, draw a mythical creature, write a thank-you note to someone, learn a magic trick... 
 

2. Go on a StoryWalk® 

We put up pages of a book like signs outside different libraries, so you can take a stroll and read at the same time! You can read one of two books, depending on which of these branches you visit:
Agincourt
Albion
Annette Street
Beaches
Bloor/Gladstone
College/Shaw
Don Mills
Downsview
Elmbrook Park
Goldhawk Park

High Park
Humber Summit
Leaside
Morningside
North York Central Library
Oakwood Village
Parliament Street
Pleasant View
Queen/Saulter
S. Walter Stewart
Scarborough Civic Centre
Victoria Village



Don't live near these locations? No problem! Borrow the books, head to a park and read them outdoors. 

I Am Scary by Elise Gravel

Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel

3. Read a web comic 

What sort of magic happens in the library when it's closed at night? Check out artist Soyeon Kim's wordless comic Night at the Library on the TDSRC website. Look at each panel and come up with your own words to tell the story! You can also write creative endings for 12 story starters. 

4. Take the French Reading Challenge 

Read books in French and fill out this form for a chance to win a prize. You can enter more than once! (Pssst... don't forget the official TPL Reading Challenge, which you have until the end of the year to finish.) 

5. Watch a video 

Want to make a butterfly garden or a pop-up book? See reptiles and dinosaur fossils up close? Press play on some of our online programs on our Crowdcast and YouTube channels. You can also watch TDSRC videos in English and French. Get tips from Canadian authors and illustrators or check out short films from the National Film Board of Canada. 


No matter how you spend your summer vacation, we hope it's a blast!

No matter our gender, we all want to be seen and accepted, to express ourselves and tell our own stories. There are more wonderful books out in the world every year, written by authors of all identities. The Reading Challenge is a way to celebrate all these voices and experiences! 

Trans, or transgender, is a term for someone whose gender identity is different from what they were assigned at birth. Non-binary is an umbrella term for gender identities that fall outside of the two categories man/boy and woman/girl. People who are trans or non-binary may use other terms to describe themselves. A non-binary person may or may not identify as trans. Choosing words to talk about who we are is a personal thing and can be complicated. 

Explore our Reading with Pride booklist to learn more, or get started with some of these stories! 



Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino
Sam and TJ are two non-binary best friends who enter a contest to design a statue of a historical figure. A new book from the author of Melissa. 



Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff 
Annabelle discovers some unexpected truths about her family when a new student joins her class. 

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee 
Min dreams of joining the Space Forces like her older brother Jun. But when Jun is accused of desertion, she must use her fox spirit powers to help clear his name.



Ellen Outside the Lines by A. J. Sass 
A trip to Spain doesn't go as planned when Ellen and her best friend are on different teams for a scavenger hunt. 



From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom, Wai-Yant Li and Kai Yun Ching 
A magical fairy tale about Miu Lan, who was born when both the sun and the moon were in the sky. What does this mean for their changing identity? 



Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution! by Joy Michael Ellison and Teshika Silver 
Sylvia and Marsha are kind and brave and not afraid to speak their truth, even when it makes other people angry. Based on the true story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, the trans women who played an important role in the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. 



What Are Your Words? by Katherine Locke and Anne Passchier 
As they walk to the summer bash, Ari introduces Uncle Lior to all the people in the neighbourhood. A great way to learn about pronouns!

Health isn't only about physical wellbeing. Our thoughts and feelings are equally important! It's normal to feel sad or stressed sometimes, and it's okay to talk about it. When something happens that we can't change or control, it can affect us in different ways. Pay attention to your own emotions and how they make you act. Don't be scared or ashamed to tell someone you trust about your worries. 

Meditation and yoga are activities which can help people feel calm and peaceful. Did you know that bibliotherapy is a way of using books to improve mental health? Reading can help us feel better, make sense of a problem, and understand other perspectives. For this Reading Challenge category, you can read a nonfiction book. Or you can read about different characters and how they deal with mental health. 


All about Worries and Fears by Felicity Brooks and Mar Ferrero 
From math tests to monsters under the bed, how do we stop everyday fears from becoming overwhelming?
 


Birdspell by Valerie Sherrard 
Corbin tries his best to care for his mom, who has bipolar disorder. When his classmate gives him a parrot, Corbin begins to feel like the bird understands his pain.
 


Ghost by Jason Reynolds 
Castle, nicknamed Ghost, keeps starting fights and getting into trouble. Everything changed since that terrible day when he ran from his father. Can joining the track team help him confront his past? 



Living with Viola by Rosena Fung
Middle school is tough enough without an evil twin shadowing you! Livy is having trouble fitting in at her new school, and Viola, who is Livy's anxiety brought to life, is not helping. 



The Sea in Winter by Christine Day 
It's been a hard year for Maisie. Ever since she hurt her leg, she couldn't keep up with her ballet training. How can she keep pretending to be strong? 

 

The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller 
Natalie is determined to win the egg drop competition and bring her mom out of depression. Can the scientific method solve all her problems? 



What's Mental Health? by Jennifer Lombardo 
Learn the basics about what mental health means, from dealing with stress to setting boundaries.