CRR Updates
Birthday Book Drive
Our hearts are so full right now!
Thank you, Adelyn, for deciding to host a book drive for us during your 6th birthday party! Look at all the wonderful books that were donated and will go back out into the community to put a smile as big as hers on another child's face. We are so proud!
Shelldale EarlyON Holiday Party
The Shelldale EarlyON Holiday Party was packed with fun activities and entertainment for the many families that attended. We were so excited and grateful to have been invited to set up a table and distribute some free children’s books just before the holidays!
Meeting Monique Gray Smith
I was excited to attend an event with Monique Gray Smith as the guest speaker. Hearing her speak about her experiences and journey in writing excellent books representing her culture was a true pleasure. Her presentation was very moving, and I was honoured to meet her. What a beautiful person!
Update Regarding the CRR Book Den at 20 Shelldale
The CRR Book Den at the Guelph Community Health Centre at Shelldale has been a tremendous success! We are receiving excellent feedback from families who visit, and we are continuously learning new ways to enhance the experience so that even more families can benefit from this free resource.
We were thrilled when the Shelldale Family Gateway tagged us in a post showcasing children from their Jr. Roots program selecting books to take home. As you can see in the image below, we already need to restock because the books are flying off the shelves!
Come check out the Book Den!
Donation from Scholastic Canada
Thanks to the Scholastic Canada Possible Fund, we received a donation of 250 brand-new books, including 27 different titles in four languages!
Visit us to pick up any books of your choice! There are so many great ones to select! We especially love “Perfect Snow” by Barbara Reid and “Je vais faire une sieste!” by Mo Willems.
Thank you, Scholastic Canada, for your generosity!
Update on Baby Bookworms
We launched the Baby Bookworms program on November 6 and are excited to report that it has been a success from the beginning! Attendance has been excellent, with many new and returning families attending weekly and visiting us at our primary location at 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N!
We are incredibly grateful to our partners at the Guelph Youth Music Centre for donating a beautiful, sunlit space where everyone can gather, chat, sing, and play.
Come check it out, or tell a friend! Great company, adorable babies and free books to collect for your home library every week!
Booktoberfest 2024!
Our 3rd annual Booktoberfest was a hit! We had a record number of participants and so many fun activities for the families.
Participants enjoyed guest authors' readings, button making, arts and crafts, henna, a silent auction, a bake sale, and selecting free children’s books to take home.
Thank you,
RaeWright from Dragonfly Art Studio, Tiffany Burtch, Sandra Wilson from The Kindness Kangaroo Project, Neighbourhood Group Support Coalition, Bob MacLean, and our lovely and incredibly supportive CRR volunteers.
Boonanza 2024
We love being a part of this spooktacular event every year! Thank you, Kortright Hills Neighbourhood Group, for inviting the CRR to attend these fantastic community events! We are so grateful for these opportunities to collaborate!
September Updates
Since we opened our doors on May 4th, 2022, we have distributed more than 20,000 books to the Guelph community!
We are very proud to have distributed over 20000 books in the community! Thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who made it possible!
We also gained many more Facebook followers and are excited to have reached the 5k mark. If you don’t currently follow us on social media, you can find the links along the heading of this page. Social Media is a great way to keep up to date on what’s new with us and on any upcoming events or resources.
Big Book Sale
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library Big Book Sale
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library (FGPL) held their annual Big Book Sale last month, and we were invited to speak with the public about our program and services. Being in a space with so many books and fellow bibliophiles was extraordinary! FGPL generously donated all the unsold children’s books to the CRR, enabling us to keep doing what we do best: providing children and families with accessible, quality children’s books to keep for as long as they wish.
Shelldale Block Party
Shelldale Block Party 2024
We had a blast at the Shelldale Block Party on September 12th. Many families from the Onward Willow community attended this fun-filled event. We distributed over 150 books to the families participating in an evening of activities, music, food, and dancing performances.
Shelldale Family Fun Day
Shelldale Family Fun Day
Thank you, Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium, for inviting us to the Shelldale Family Fun Day on September 28th! What a great way to unite the community and enjoy a lovely afternoon!
Thank you to our New Sponsors
Thank you to our new sponsor
Thank you to our new sponsor
August Updates
Onward Willow bACKPACK EVENT
This was our third year distributing free children’s books to the children collecting their new backpacks and school supplies at the Onward Willow Neighbourhood Group distribution days at Shelldale on Wednesday, August 21st, from 10-1 and Thursday, August 22nd, from 1-4.
The Guelph Community Backpack Project provides children (K-12) with a fully stocked, brand-new backpack for free to start the new school year. What a great and successful initiative!
We gave the families who picked up their backpacks a free pre-loved children’s book. We had a great two days and distributed 281 books!
Thank you, Onward Willow Neighbourhood Group, for inviting us again this year. Your partnership means so much to us!
Check out the article by the Guelph Mercury Tribune below,
Guelph Community Backpack Project giving out 2,400 backpacks (guelphmercury.com)
Guelph Community Backpack Event at Shelldale
kORTRIGHT HILLS CHILL NIGHT
On Thursday, August 15th, we were so happy to attend the Kortright Hills Chill Night. There were fun games, free ice cream and treats, the Guelph Fire Department, the Guelph Police Services, Spiderman, Scouts, the Public Library, The Clothing Closet, Ward 6 Council representatives and of course us, distributing free, well-loved children’s books.
We had a great time meeting some new families and seeing some of our regulars.
Thank you, Kortright Hills Neighbourhood Group, for always including us in your fun events! We can’t wait until Boonanza in October.
Kortright Hills Chill Night
July Updates
Fay & Fluffy Drag Storytime and Singalong at the Guelph Youth Music Center on June 15th, 2024
Enchanted Park at Exhibition Park with Exhibition Park Neighbourhood Group on June 22, 2024
The amazing, one and only Robert Munsch at Tea ‘n’ Tales at Riverside Park on July 13, 2024.
Willow West Block Party, also on July 13th, 2024. Busy day!
Brant Ave Camp on July 18, 2024. Check out the adorable turtles we made!
Immigrant Services, Settlement Workers in Schools Event on July 25, 2024
There’s a new Book nook in town!
There are currently fourteen CRR Book Nooks in Guelph, and we continue to be contacted by business and community organizations inquiring about procuring one at their place of business. Since we started the Book Nook Program from June 2022 to April 2024 inclusive, we are proud to have distributed 6,553 books through this accessible initiative!
NEW BOOK NOOK - CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION OF GUELPH AND WELLINGTON
Some of our other Book Nooks
Guelph Youth Music Center Book Nook
Dragonfly Art Studio Book Nook
Parkwood Gardens Neighbourhood Group book nook
Immigrant Services Book Nook
If you are interested in having a Book Nook at your organization, please contact us.
info@childrensreadingroom.org
