April Community Corner
From the Shelf of the CEO
Steacy shares hopeful and encouraging thoughts about rededicating ourselves to the important work of serving children and families furthest from opportunity in our community during these challenging times.


International Children's Book Day

April 2 is International Children's Book Day. Celebrate by reading literature by children's authors and illustrators from around the world. We recommend you start by looking at books written by the six authors on the shortlist for the the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen award.


We hope you don't forget to buy local ! Many Calgary area bookstores have online or phone-in purchase opportunities and home delivery.
Willow Park Golf and Country Club
Charity Classic

The Willow Park Charity Golf Classic  began with a simple idea... a belief in the importance of giving back to the community, of supporting worthwhile causes on behalf of the Club and its members. Since 1988, through the generosity of Willow Park directors and members, and through the support of sponsors, players and volunteers, the Willow Park Charity Golf Classic has donated over $11.1 million to Calgary charities.  This year proceeds from July's Willow Park Golf Charity Classic will support Calgary Reads.

As the charity of choice, Calgary Reads is providing sponsorship opportunities and auction items. If you or your company would like to donate or be a sponsor, please message us: [email protected]

April is Poetry Month!

Don't forget to celebrate POETRY and the joy and value poems can bring to our lives and literary culture.

Take a moment to think about and share what poetry means to you.

Follow @CanadianPoets and use the hashtag #PoetryMeans on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all throughout April -- Poetry Month.

Dear Heart,
This is not a normal time.
So forgive yourself 
for not being normal.
You never were.
Now you have a good reason
And company.
-Ronna Bloom, March 13, 2020

Thanks to Ronna Bloom for writing this timely and insightful poem.


On April 30, 2020, Calgary Reads will be celebrating
Poem in Your Pocket Day!
This special day encourages people to choose a poem, carry it with them, and share it with others all throughout the day.

Learn more about the day at  Pocket Poem .


Did you know that the City of Calgary has a Poet Laureate ?
This writer's role is to encourage and promote the importance of literature, culture and language in our local society. A Poet Laureate brings attention to poetry, both spoken and written, and the role it can play in our lives.
Goodnight and Thank You!
We need to say a special 'thank you' and goodbye to the Early Childhood Coalitions of Alberta, in particular the 14 coalitions with which we've worked very closely with for the past eight years. The work of the caring members of these coalitions, to increase the awareness and effectiveness of the importance of the early years, is astronomical ! We look forward to seeing you 'in the orbit' and working together in new ways in the future!

Calgary Reads Children's Reading Place
Readers in Residence - Guest Blogger
We are so fortunate that our very special Children's Reading Place has hosted some very special Readers-in-Residence over the past two years.


Terry and Christine Lindberg have served the children and families who visit the Children's Reading Place and helped to ensure the joyful and smooth running of the house. It is now time to say farewell to them and wish them all the best. We say a big thank you to them both for their service and support.

Terry has written a beautiful blog post about their experience in the Children's Reading place and we hope you'll take time to read it.

CBC Calgary Reads BIG BOOK SALE

You may have found you have more time recently, to box up those "like new" books which would be perfect for donating to the CBC Calgary Reads Big Book Sale!

Due to the current challenges we are all facing, our Big Book Sale will likely be postponed this year until the fall and we will still need your book donations .

*We urgently need donations of new or "like new" children's books .

If you have children's books that you would like to donate, please contact us at [email protected]

Since early March, when schools in Alberta closed and families have been unable to freely leave their homes, we have been diligently and creatively providing thousands of children books from our Book Bank to children and families in need throughout our community.

We appreciate you patiently holding onto your adult book donations. We will be communicating with you very soon about when and how you can donate adult books.

Thank you for your support!