Written by York Region District School Board Teacher Librarian Geoffrey Ruggero

It’s back! After a very successful first year where authors, students, educators, librarians, parents and many other Canadians came together to promote Canadian literature, I Read Canadian Day has returned! 

What happens when the Ontario Library Association, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, and renowned Canadian author Eric Walters come together? You get a nationwide campaign designed to bring awareness to the diversity and wide range of Canadian literature that is available.

On the inaugural I Read Canadian Day, thousands of students in hundreds of schools across the country, connected with authors to celebrate the wide array of Canadian books that are out there. These connections are vital to fostering a love of reading and a willingness to seek out the work of Canadians.

Last year, in my role as teacher-librarian, I took this day as an opportunity to introduce our students to all the wonderful literature we have by Canadian authors. In preparation, I discovered many hidden gems in our collection that I did not realize were written by Canadians. Middle grade novels like Orange for the Sunsets by Tina Athaide, Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green, The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands. After a successful day, students continue to come back looking for more books they were introduced to on that day, and we now have more than one area of our learning commons where students know they can always find books by Canadian authors.

This year, as a homeroom teacher, I’ve continued to encourage my students to read Canadian novels. Some of their favourites so far include the first two books in Kenneth Oppel’s new trilogy (Bloom and Hatch) and The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson.

One of the goals of I Read Canadian Day 2021, is for children all over Canada to read one Canadian book for fifteen minutes on February 17th.

No matter how you celebrate and promote Canadian literature, this day is a great way to begin, or continue amplifying the voices of Canadian authors.

Happy I Read Canadian Day!

***

Since jumping at the opportunity to become a Teacher-Librarian, Geoffrey Ruggero has transformed the Learning Commons at a Maple Public School into a modern learning space. His passion for reading and making inspires students to bring their learning to life in many unique ways.