Reading Archives - Muskoka411

Toronto Public Library Reveals The Most Read Books Of 2024

News Room — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:44:35 +0000

The results are in! Toronto Public Library (TPL) unveils its annual lists of the most read and borrowed books of the year, offering a fascinating glimpse into the literary tastes of Torontonians. This year’s reading trends reveal a growing interest in stories that celebrate strong characters and the profound impact of community. Among Canadian books, romance and mystery novels by Toronto-based authors reign supreme. View TPL’s complete lists of top reads and top Canadian reads in 2024.

Strong female leads dominate the shelves
Toronto readers showed a clear preference for stories with compelling female protagonists. Leading the charge was The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros, captivating readers with its dynamic storytelling and unforgettable heroine. Kristin Hannah’s The Women also resonated deeply, weaving a tale of resilience and courage through the lens of Vietnam War nurse Frankie McGrath. Offering humor, heart and inspiration, popular picks like Emily Henry’s Funny Story and Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry further cemented the trend.

A shift to stories of connection
After years of escapist reading, 2024 marked a shift toward books that explore the power of relationships and community. Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water transported readers to a multi-generational family saga steeped in love and tradition. James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store brought the importance of belonging to life through a richly drawn narrative. Ann Napolitano’s Hello Beautiful echoed this theme, captivating readers with its portrayal of familial bonds and personal transformation.

“These titles remind us of the strength and solace we find in the communities and connections we build,” said Matt Abbott, Senior Manager, Collection Development, TPL. “It’s heartening to see how Torontonians are drawn to stories that reflect the resilience, humour and love that define our shared humanity.”

Locals Carley Fortune and Nita Prose shine bright
When it comes to Canadian books, one thing is clear: Torontonians can’t get enough of Carley Fortune and Nita Prose. These homegrown literary talents have captured the hearts of readers with their heartwarming contemporary romances and charming mysteries.

Carley Fortune’s captivating love stories continue to resonate with audiences, while Nita Prose’s delightful mystery series featuring Molly the Maid has kept readers on the edge of their seats. Both authors have made a significant impact on the Canadian literary scene, and with new releases slated for 2025, are expected to remain fan favorites.

“We’re excited to see the continued success of these two exceptional local authors,” said Abbott. “Their books offer the perfect blend of warmth and wit, making them a top choice for readers in Toronto and beyond.”

Discover the most borrowed books of 2024 in multiple formats and explore the free resources your TPL card offers—from new releases and streaming services to research databases and global news. With books, music, films and digital content in over 40 languages, there’s something for everyone.

What Toronto Read 2024

What Toronto Read 2024 – Canadian

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Ontario Maintains Strong International Standing In Math, Reading And Science

News Room — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:12:57 +0000

Today, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued the following statement on the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results:

“I am proud to share that the PISA 2022 results released this morning show that Ontario has maintained its strong international standing in math, reading and science. Students across the province are the best educated in Canada and the world.

In all three categories, 15-year-olds in Ontario performed well above the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average. Of 81 international jurisdictions, Ontario ranked second overall in reading internationally and nationally. The province’s results in science were among the top 10 internationally and second in Canada. Finally, Ontario’s math results were within the top 15 internationally and second nationally.

These findings affirm our government’s investments and back to basics focus in math, reading, writing and STEM have helped maintain Ontario’s world-class education system. It also clearly demonstrates Ontario’s focus on keeping children in stable classrooms and investing in reading, writing and math has helped to drive a strong recovery from the global pandemic compared to other international jurisdictions.

Our government is unwavering in its commitment to keep students in class without interruption while strengthening foundational learning that helps prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

Together, we will continue to ensure students graduate with a competitive advantage that will lead them to high-paying jobs, the ability to own a home, and a life of opportunity.”

This school year, the government has invested more than $27 billion in school boards. With $700 million more in base education funding than last year, Ontario students are benefiting from access to 2,000 more educators, including teachers with specialized expertise in literacy instruction, doubling the number of math coaches in classrooms, and staffing to support the transition to high school and de-streaming, as well as hiring a Math Lead in every school board, and the creation and deployment of a Math Action Team to drive change and improve math achievement.

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Children Served By Food Banks To Receive Over 130,000 Books Through Read On Canada! Initiative

Staff Reporter — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 16:08:30 +0000

Written by a representative for Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation

This week marks the start of Read On Canada!, an exciting initiative from a coalition of reading advocates and Food Banks Canada, supported by the generous donation of books from Canadian publishers. The Read On Canada! initiative is making more than 130,000 books available to families through food bank partners and sharing fun activities online at ReadOnCanada.ca. The goal is to inspire all children to “read on” as the school year officially comes to an end and the pandemic stretches into summer.

Read On Canada! was created to mitigate the effects of the “summer slide,” a drop in reading ability which can happen over the summer months, particularly among children who do not have opportunities to read during the school break. This year, the slide is expected by some educators to be a “summer avalanche” given the long disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These disruptions affect all children, including babies and pre-schoolers, with pandemic-related closures of libraries, daycares, and community programs.

“Too many children in Canada are heading into summer with limited access to reading materials,” said Ariel Siller, CEO of the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation, coordinating partner of the Read On Canada! coalition. “We launched Read On Canada! to help address that, providing books and reading activities to families with children from birth through to age ten so they can find joy, comfort, and enrichment in the power of words during these challenging times.”

All Canadians are encouraged to join the Read On Canada! movement by reading with a child they love and visiting ReadOnCanada.ca to check out the growing collection of fun reading activities for families. You can also show your support on social media by declaring that you are “reading on” this summer, using the hashtag #ReadOnCanada. Check out how astronaut Chris Hadfield has joined the movement in the video below.

The Read On Canada! coalition came together around a shared view that reading with children, starting from their earliest days, and supporting them to “read on” is an important way to help them reach their full potential in school and throughout life. Age-appropriate, engaging reading materials are crucial to helping children develop the skills they need to thrive emotionally and academically. Strong reading skills are strongly linked to children becoming healthier, more socially engaged and more productive adults.

“This summer, many families struggling with food insecurity will get the gift of hope in a food hamper,” says Chris Hatch, CEO of Food Banks Canada. “Because of our partnership with Read On Canada!, not only will families with children receive much-needed food supplies, but each child will also receive a book, which has the ability to open up a world of possibilities. They will know that someone cares, not only for their physical well-being, but for their development as well.”

For more information about Read On Canada!, visit the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation website.

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Huntsville Public Library Announces TD Summer Reading Club 2020

Staff Reporter — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 19:02:45 +0000

Huntsville Public Library is excited to announce TD Summer Reading Club 2020! All ages are invited to read for enjoyment this summer. Read books you are interested in or read aloud to a family member!

We’ve gone digital! Individuals can register for a READsquared account on the Huntsville Library website or download the app to track reading. Parents can sign up with one or more kids under their account. No username or password needed for kids under a parent/caregiver account. Weekly draws and grand prizes draws are done through READsquared. Find out about prizes at huntsvillelibrary.ca.

Sign up for Virtual Activities for Kids, Tweens and Teens including Virtual Storytime, Remote StoryWalks, Virtual Games Nights, Virtual LEGO Builders Club, Virtual Crafty Kids and more! Activities take place using the Zoom platform with a meeting ID and password.

Kids and teens looking for something new to read? View reading lists in READsquared that highlight ebooks and audiobooks on Libby/Overdrive with shorter wait times for HPL members and ebooks available at tdsummerreadingclub.ca.

A huge thank you to our local sponsors: The Friends of the Library, the Rotary Club of North Muskoka and Huntsville Denture Clinic.

The TD Summer Reading Club runs across Canada in over 2,000 public libraries and is developed by Toronto Public Library in partnership with Library and Archives Canada. Sponsorship is generously provided by TD Bank Group.

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