FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (June 19, 2024)—The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is pleased to announce the selection for the 2024 TD Grade One Book Giveaway. Violet Shrink, written by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Carmen Mok and published by Groundwood Books, will be distributed to approximately 500,000 Grade 1 students across Canada this fall. Translated into French by Mireille Messier, francophone Canadians and French immersion students will receive copies of the French translation, Violette Cent-Soucis.

Through the generous support of TD Bank Group, the CCBC is thrilled to deliver—for the twenty-fifth year—the gift of a Canadian picture book to every Grade 1 student across Canada. Books are taken home by each child to keep and to read and re-read with their caregivers. The impact of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway is undeniable, with 12.5 million books given to Grade 1 students across Canada since 2000. In a survey after last year’s giveaway, 96% of Grade 1 educators felt that this program allows students to feel included and demonstrates that books and reading are important!