When I was a child, I had a huge collection of books. Some were gifts from family, some were ones I purchased and some were books of my mom’s from her own childhood years. But even so, I was such an avid reader that I usually also had a huge stack of books that I’d brought home from the school library.
As hard as it is for me to believe, it’s likely that some of the same books I brought home from that library are still there today. The average age of a book in some Canadian school libraries is 15 years, which is already long considering how often the books are read, but some are kept much longer than that. And often books are repaired with tape and staples to keep them in circulation because there’s no budget for new copies.
That’s why for the last ten years the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has supported underfunded schools to help encourage literacy and learning. And to celebrate its tenth anniversary, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has a very special contest that will help put the most beloved books of all time in libraries across Canada!
Just visit the Indigo Love of Reading voting page to cast your vote for your favourite book or books. The top ten will be donated to over 200 schools across Canada when the voting ends on February 28, 2015. You can choose from the books already listed or nominate a special favourite of your own. Personally, I’ll be voting for Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Most children know the story of Alice’s first adventure in Wonderland, but not many know about her return. And while Roald Dahl wrote so many fabulous children’s books, both my boys and me absolutely love James and the Giant Peach, so that’s another I’ll be recommending!
To celebrate this fabulous initiative, Chapters/Indigo also has an incredible giveaway just for you! One lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader is going to win their own set of the top ten books chosen by Canadians during the voting contest for their own home library! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about your favourite childhood book.
You can vote as many times as you like for as many books as you like, so head over to the Indigo Love of Reading voting page and choose your favourites! Not only will you be helping to determine the top children’s books of all time, you’ll also be ensuring that underfunded schools across Canada have a great selection of books for the students. After all, there’s nothing better than helping a child develop a love of reading!
Dayna Wilson says
January 31, 2015 at 4:53 pmI love so many…The Paper Bag Princess comes to mind, because of it’s feminine-positive message…my son’s favourite book is “How to Train a Train” which is totally adorable and funny, with great art. I like a lot of Oliver Jeffers books, but some of them are kind of moronse.
Jen L says
January 31, 2015 at 5:10 pmMy mom read ‘A Little Princess’ to me many times as a child, it was my fave when I started to read.
Actual smaller children’s books where Berenstein Bears, Golden books and Dr. Seuss.
Suzie M says
January 31, 2015 at 5:10 pmIts hard to choose one, I’ll love you forever is a fave
Karen C. Hill says
January 31, 2015 at 5:17 pmI’ll Love You Forever is my all time favourite story, but my son really loves Hiccuppotamus and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Stephanie Dawe says
January 31, 2015 at 5:22 pmSnow white has always been my favorite
Brenda Lacourciere says
January 31, 2015 at 5:54 pmHarry Potter 7
Linda Brown says
January 31, 2015 at 5:59 pmShe has soooooooo many but she does like I’ll love you forever
Deanna T. says
January 31, 2015 at 6:05 pmI was a voracious reader as a kid, so hard to pick just one. The Silver Crown by Robert C O’Brien was one of the first chapter books I read, really stuck with me. The author is better known for writing Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (which later became the movie The Secret of NIMH).
kathy downey says
January 31, 2015 at 6:09 pmDr. Seuss Green Eggs & Ham is our favorite
darci says
January 31, 2015 at 6:16 pmthe pokey little puppy
Luisa M. says
January 31, 2015 at 6:27 pmCaptain Underpants
Florence c says
January 31, 2015 at 6:28 pmThe Wizard of Oz. I read it so many time to my daughter.
Cheryl says
January 31, 2015 at 7:07 pmThe Kissing Hand 🙂
Judy Cowan says
January 31, 2015 at 7:26 pmDr Seuss The Cat in The Hat!
Stephanie LaPlante says
January 31, 2015 at 7:42 pmZOOM! by Robert Munsch
Karine says
January 31, 2015 at 7:59 pmMy nephew loves Green eggs and ham of Dr Seuss
Tiffany Rotulo says
January 31, 2015 at 8:00 pmMy kids love the Frozen books. They practically have them memorized. Love this giveaway, thanks for the chance
Cheryl Almas says
January 31, 2015 at 8:05 pmGreen Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss
heidi c. says
January 31, 2015 at 8:07 pmMy kids have all loved Goodnight Moon.
Jennifer P. says
January 31, 2015 at 9:05 pmI have a TON of favourite children’s books. My mom was a children’s librarian for over 35 years so I have been reading great children’s book my whole life! Right now a couple of our favourites to read to our children are Goodnight Hawaiian Moon and The Paper Bag Princess.
amy t says
January 31, 2015 at 9:20 pmI really love reading the books I enjoyed as a child, to my children! I don’t know, I just get a kick out of seeing them enjoy the very stories that I did.
Some of our favorites are:
*any Amelia Bedelia book
*Jillian Jigs
*any Robert Munsch book
*Charlottes Web- this is probably the most important book I’ve ever read, it was my first chapter book. I was SO proud when I finished reading it- and it was the beginning of a life-long love of reading!
Marla says
January 31, 2015 at 10:58 pmMortimer
Laurie B says
January 31, 2015 at 11:29 pmI use to have a book of fairy tales my mom would read to me. I can’t remember the name of it though.
Laurie B says
January 31, 2015 at 11:34 pmFrom the list I voted for Charlotte’s Web. One of my favourites as I got older.
Amy C says
February 1, 2015 at 12:16 amLove you forever by Robert Munsch
Lisa H says
February 1, 2015 at 1:14 amMy favourite is Ferdinand the Bull.
Jeannie says
February 1, 2015 at 1:17 amMy son loves the Gruffalo.
MaryG. says
February 1, 2015 at 7:03 amThey love Cat in the Hat…pretty much any book that rhymes is a hit with my little ones 🙂
Lori JB says
February 1, 2015 at 7:43 amFor older ones, my favourite is the Harry Potter series. My girls love the Amelia Bedelia books – so funny.
Francine says
February 1, 2015 at 7:47 amI picked Charlotte’s Web
Jennifer L. says
February 1, 2015 at 7:54 amI love James and The Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
kristen visser says
February 1, 2015 at 8:12 amCat in the Hat
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
February 1, 2015 at 8:55 amThe Wizard of Oz is one of my favourites and my grandchildren love The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.
JaimeeM says
February 1, 2015 at 8:57 amThe cat in the hat is an in house favorite.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
February 1, 2015 at 9:04 ama shame but the voting page isn’t working at the moment, maybe later 🙁
sharon boyle says
February 1, 2015 at 9:14 amMousington Abbey
Amber Y says
February 1, 2015 at 9:35 amPurple, Green and Yellow is a favourite.
holly o'gorman says
February 1, 2015 at 9:37 amWhen I was younger, I liked Dr Seuss, and Judy Blume.
Alesha ol says
February 1, 2015 at 9:56 amWhen I was younger it was all Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary
bina edwards says
February 1, 2015 at 10:06 ammy fav is three little kittens. We had the book that had the whole verse in it and I sang that to the kids
jen s. says
February 1, 2015 at 10:32 amSuperfudge by Judy Blume and A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein.
Laurie P says
February 1, 2015 at 11:10 amMy favorite book as a kid was a Robert Munsch book, Murmel, Murmel, Murmel! My girl enjoys it just as much as I did. Actually most books, she listens to so intently. She’s just as big of a book worm as her dad!
Julie G. says
February 1, 2015 at 11:31 amWhen I was little, my favourite book was called A Pony Named Alfred. I had it memorized and many years later, I can still recite parts of it.
Louise Gilbert says
February 1, 2015 at 11:48 amRobert Munsch and Dr Seuss
lori b says
February 1, 2015 at 12:13 pmlove you forever is a fav
ivy pluchinsky says
February 1, 2015 at 12:17 pmDr. Seuss Green Eggs & Ham
Linda Bradshaw says
February 1, 2015 at 12:29 pmOne Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish a Dr Seuss book. That was my favorite too.
Athena says
February 1, 2015 at 12:30 pmGuess How Much I Love You
Heather NC says
February 1, 2015 at 12:56 pmThese are great books with stories to pass down the next generation!!
wobbles13 says
February 1, 2015 at 2:34 pmhow do dinosaurs say I’m mad? and other related book
Karin Dollery says
February 1, 2015 at 2:44 pmMy granddaughters love so many different books but they especially love The Little Critters.