Ready for Reading

Farmer’s Market is the theme of the Albion Branch KidsStop. Families are invited to explore foods from around the world in this highly engaging early literacy interactive installation. Children can make the headlights on the market truck light up, explore the various stages of plant growth captured in resin and see spices from many cultures embedded in the alphabet table.

Water is the theme of the Bloor/Gladstone Branch KidsStop. A wave wall greets visitors complete with a puppet hole (surrounded by a carved octopus), a textured giant letter W, lenses that capture a bug's-eye view of the world and a bobber/fishing sphere to simulate fishing in a river.

Exploring the Alphabet is the theme for Brentwood's KidsStop. The space features larger-than-life letters that encourage children to tell stories, explore vocabulary, become familiar with print and cuddle up together to read.

River Express is the theme of Cedarbrae's KidsStop. Children and families enter the 1,000 square foot area through a riverboat entranceway with flooring that illustrates water pebbles and leaves, and are met with a cozy elephant reading nook and a tree with books nestled within it.

Soar is the theme of the Downsview Branch KidsStop. An old-fashioned plane greets visitors as they enter the children’s department, complete with a height measurement installation that utilizes coins from around the world. There are kiosks surrounding the plane that imitate clouds, both from a daylight and nighttime point of view. Children and their families can explore both being a pilot in the plane as well as a passenger.

The theme for Dufferin/St. Clair's KidsStop is the Enchanted Forest inspired by the historic Doris McCarthy murals that decorate the space and a dragon that winds its way through the room encouraging children to explore the books from its spine. Children and families are also welcome to explore their endless fascination with fairy tales with a puppet theatre and a cast of puppets.

The Fairview KidsStop theme is shapes and colours. The three interactive kiosks have large oval shapes integrating both cool and warm colours and have interactive panels that are in various shapes. Translucent ovals with different cut-outs overlap in the windows in a playful and dynamic way, casting shadows in the KidsStop on sunny days.

Linking the neighbourhood's present with the past, Photography is the theme for the Mount Dennis KidsStop which features an engaging wall of photos and video. (For many years the Kodak plant was a major fixture in the community.)

Transportation is the theme for the North York Central KidsStop. Families are invited to try driving and riding the bus and car as well as exploring a city scape mural that has an interactive component. Children can make the lights on the bus and building light up, rest a while at the bus stop, complete with an official TTC bus stop pole, and go on a scavenger hunt throughout the installation for various items. The window treatment near the KidsStop is actually a transportation map of the Toronto Subway. Can you identify all of the stations you use?

Richview is the newest location for a KidsStop early literacy centre at Toronto Public Library. With a theme of "Bounce", children ages birth to 5 are invited to explore movement through the space, cuddle up with a good book in a reading nook, explore the world through a bug's eye view and play with rhymes and chants that "bounce" around.

Because of the round, 'flying saucer-like' design of the branch and because space is always a subject of interest to young children, Space is the theme of the S. Walter Stewart KidsStop. This KidsStop features a big book mounted to the wall for children to explore (a central feature of every KidsStop) and a spaceship puppet theatre.

The Environment is the theme of this KidsStop, and cozy reading areas tucked in close to big windows make it seem like you're reading outside! Colourful towers greet visitors and invite children and their caregivers to explore a bug's eye view of the world, use the Worm Theatre to tell a tale, and try a nature match using materials from the neighbourhood.

Reading is the theme of Thorncliffe's KidsStop. Each letter of the dramatic, large and colourful "Read" sign has activity panels designed for fun and early learning.