January 19, 2024
Friesens & The TD Grade One Book Giveaway
It should come as no surprise, being a world-class book manufacturer, that Friesens is (and has always been) a strong advocate in promoting the benefits of literacy. We take every opportunity to instill the love of books and love of reading to every child, because we believe that the greatest gift we can give our kids is the ability to read and form a love for the written word.
We have been incredibly proud to be a supporter of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway, a program of The Canadian Children’s Book Centre since its inception 23 years ago. We work alongside the Canadian Children’s Book Centre in printing and producing approximately 600,000 books each year that are given as a free gift to every grade one student across Canada; over 12 million books have been distributed since 2000.
In late 2023, we printed the book Chaiwala! written by Priti Birla Maheshwari, illustrated by Ashley Barron, and published by Owlkids Books. Inspired by Maheshwari’s childhood visits to India, the book celebrates the pleasures of taking time for food, family, and tradition – even if for a brief moment. The book was also translated into French by Benoit Laflamme so that francophone Canadians and French immersion students can enjoy the positive message of the book.
“Each child will receive their own copy to take home, share with their families, and read as often as they like,” CCBC’s executive director, Sarah Sahagian, said in a press statement. “Early literacy is the foundation of a successful academic career, and all children have the right to read great books.”
Friesens has over 116 years of experience in book manufacturing, and we are happy to be part of these programs as we continue to help our customers share their best story with the world through the power of print.
