Blog

Some days all you need is a happy story! It's important to read and learn about serious issues and tough topics. But when the world makes us feel down, books can also raise our spirits. What's a story that puts a smile on your face and makes you feel good and hopeful?

This Reading Challenge category is about Black joy, a movement that inspires and supports Black culture. Looking for more stories to celebrate and uplift Black voices? Ask a librarian or check out these booklists:
Black History Month 2023
Black Lives Matter
Coretta Scott King Book Awards 2023

100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic edited by Lilly Workneh
Get inspired by this amazing collection of mini biographies. Part of the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series.
 

Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia
These 17 short stories, comics and poems from a wildly talented group of authors will make you laugh, clap and cheer.

The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist and Darnell Johnson
Can Kai learn the steps in time to join his family on the dance floor at his aunt's wedding?

Granny's Kitchen by Sadé Smith and Ken Daley
Shelly-Ann's grandmother teaches her how to cook. Includes recipes you can try with your family! Make a delicious reading combo with Soul Food Sunday.

J. D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard and Akeem S. Roberts
When a bad haircut ruins his first day of Grade 3, J.D. decides to take matters into his own hands – with hilarious results!

Malaika's Costume by Nadia L. Hohn and Irene Luxbacher
Carnival is coming! What will Malaika wear? Find out in this first book of the Malaika series.

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
Ryan tries her best to be optimistic, even though it's hard sometimes. Follow her sunny adventures with more books in the series!

Welcome to the Cypher by Khodi Dill and Awuradwoa Afful
A group of kids find their voices through the rhythm and poetry of rap. Read this one out loud!
 

Can you solve these digital jigsaw puzzles featuring some of this year's Design-a-Bookmark Contest winners?

Puzzle #1

Puzzle #2 

Puzzle #3 

Puzzle #4 

Puzzle #5 

Puzzle #6 



More March Break activities

Are you ready for March Break? Because the library is ready for you! We've got books, but you know that already. Here's a quick guide to everything else you and your family can do this week:

Come to a program in the library
Robots and puppets! Snakes and slime! Magic and movies! There is lots to do at branches across the city and guess what? It's free to attend our programs. Tell a grown-up and find out what's happening near you!

Come to a program online
Join us live for these virtual events:
BenTastic's Fantastic Magic Show | Tuesday, March 14 at 11 am
Exploring Dinosaurs with Club Rex | Thursday, March 16 at 11 am
Un printemps à Paris avec Touralingo | Saturday, March 18 at noon

You can also replay coding tutorials, craft workshops and more on our TPL Kids Crowdcast channel.

Learn a new fact
Do bears use the bathroom when they hibernate? How are words invented? Why are pizza slices triangles? Find out the answers on our Wonder Wall!

Collect all 16 bookmarks
The 2023 Design-a-Bookmark Contest winning bookmarks are now available in branches. Use them to mark your place in the 16 (or however many) books you're reading! You can also solve digital jigsaw puzzles featuring some of this year's winning designs.


Get a bookbag
You'll need one to carry all those books. Pick up one of our new bookbags for $2 at your local branch, while supplies last.
 


Call Dial-a-Story
Did you know we have a phone number you can call and listen to recorded stories in lots of different languages? Gather your family and ring us at 416-395-5400.

Borrow movies, music and TV shows
Check out new DVDs or stream something on Hoopla and Kanopy.

Tell us a joke or riddle
And LOL (or groan) at the ones submitted by other kids!

Visit fairyland
Going downtown? Check out this special exhibit about fairies at the Toronto Reference Library.

Watch our YouTube videos
Follow along as we build catapults, rollercoasters, paper rockets, and more.

Take our Reading Challenge
This is your chance to try something new! Read 12 books in 12 different categories and enter our prize draw at the end of the year.

Explore branches across the city
Some libraries have 3D printers. Some have play areas for younger kids with fun themes like Farmer's Market and Beaver Lodge. Some even have an interactive wall of lights where you can turn them to change colours and create designs. We have 100 branches waiting for you to discover! How many have you visited?  


What other plans do you have for March Break? Board game party? Maple syrup tasting? Sledding? Whatever your week involves, we hope you have an amazing time!

Discovery is in the bag! We've got a new TPL bookbag, perfect for carrying books to and from the library. Available for $2 at your local branch, it will make it super handy dandy to load up on all your favourite reads. How many books can you fit inside? What about movies? Experiment and find out!

Aside from books, here are some other things you could put inside a shiny new bookbag:

Lunch box
Toys
Art supplies
Everything you need to build a snowman (except the snow, maybe)
Your best friend's birthday present
Magician starter pack: wand, deck of cards, scarves, hat (you should probably put the rabbit somewhere else)
Your cousin's birthday present
Detective starter pack: notebook, pencil, magnifying glass, flashlight
Your cousin's best friend's birthday present (okay, you get the idea)
Knitting project
Top secret blueprints to build a time machine

...and whatever else you like! Think of all the stuff you can carry in a bookbag. So get yours while supplies last and fill it up with imagination and amazing stories.

Hey, you know what books are usually told from a kid's point of view? Books for kids! Shocking, right?

Anyway, this is a super easy Reading Challenge category for you. But the challenge is for people of all ages, and some grown-ups might have a hard time choosing a book. So it's your turn to give recommendations to the adults in your life! Want to persuade your parents and teachers to read your favourite books? This is your chance!

Also, March Break is coming up and it's a great time to visit the library. ("It's always a great time to visit the library," you say.) From STEM programs, to hands-on workshops and books, there is lots to do and make and read. Pick up a new bookbag while you're here and fill it with your Reading Challenge picks!