Family Literacy Day: January 27

Family Literacy Day: January 27

Every year on January 27, families and communities across Canada celebrate this special day at literacy-themed events coordinated by literacy organizations, schools, public libraries and families. In addition to the thousands of individuals, groups, businesses and families across Canada who have embraced Family Literacy Day, many corporate and media partners have donated time and services to help ABC CANADA get the word out about FLD.

There are some fun family literacy activities and tools to help the whole family learn together.

~ Family Literacy Calendar
~ Fun Family Literacy Activities
~ Family Literacy Tips from A to Z
~ Ten Wacky Family Literacy Ideas
~ Learning While on the Road

The 2008 Cuffies

Children's booksellers choose their favorite (and not so favorite) books of the year. Compiled by Diane Roback -- Publishers Weekly, Jan 19, 2009 for complete list.

Favorite Picture Book of the Year10 Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, illus. by Helen Oxenbury~ extraordinary but simple—less is more !

Favorite Novel of the Year
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (“absolutely riveting”)
by Terry Pratchett (“funny but deep”)

Most Unusual Picture Book
The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin, illus. by Rosana Faria

Funniest Book (tie)Frankenstein Takes the Cake by Adam Rex; Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

Book You'd Like to See Win the Newbery MedalMasterpiece by Elise Broach

Book You'd Like to See Win the Caldecott Medal (tie)We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illus. by Ed Young

Book You Were Happiest to See Back in PrintThe Three Robbers by Tomi Ungerer

Book You Were Sorriest to See Go Out of PrintBlueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Read On @ Your Local Library: CalCat or WorldCat

Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan - Avery, March 2009

As we become adults, taking time to play feels like a guilty pleasure—a distraction from “real” work and life. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. In fact, our ability to play throughout life is the single most important factor in determining our success and happiness.