I was always so excited to start a new book when I was a boy. In particular, I remember sitting in bed and trying to keep my eyes open, battling off sleep to finish another chapter of Roald Dahl’s The Witches.

I read all of his books, but it was always that one which I used to read with devotion. I would pore over the pages and carefully put my bookmark in and save the next thrilling chapter until the next night. It was an experience I couldn’t wait to continue but didn’t want to end.

The next collection that transported me was the Harry Potter series. My friend Kris insisted I read The Philosopher’s Stone as I had initially put it off, thinking that it was just a kids’ book. It took me about two days of staying in my small college dorm room, drinking copious cups of tea and absent-mindedly nibbling on jam and toast for me to finish the fantasy and then rush to the bookstore to get the next installment.

A love of stories and the experience of reading a new book is something that I’m passionate about passing on to my 3 year old daughter. Every night we read a book or three, and while they’re pretty linear stories right now, I look forward to delving into chapter-based adventures with her soon.

Oh, I just remembered the Famous Five books!

Sorry, back to the topic. You see I’m telling you all about my favourite stories because of TD Bank. Since 2000, the annual TD Grade One Book Giveaway has provided English and French grade one students with a free Canadian children’s book to take home and read with their families. As part of the TD Ready Commitment, the program is designed to encourage literacy and promote a passion for books by distributing over 500,000 books to schools across Canada.

Also, have you ever read Around the World in 80 Days? What an adventure! It’s a short read but a true classic and rather sweet too.

For 2018, the selected book was Giraffe and Bird, written and illustrated by Canadian author Rebecca Bender. The Giraffe and Bird are a couple of characters who always at odds. The Giraffe keeps getting wound up by the little bird, and the bird can’t stand the tall guy. After a real falling-out, they want their own space. Until, that is, a storm comes their way.

The TD Grade One Book Giveaway is delivered in collaboration with Canadian Children’s Book Centre. School boards and ministries of education in all provinces were contacted in spring 2018 for their grade one enrollment figures. Schools should contact their school board or ministry of education to ensure that they are on the list to receive the giveaway book each year. If you have any questions regarding the 2018 program, please contact bookgiveaway@bookcentre.ca.

We both loved reading Giraffe and Bird. It took a couple of read-throughs to get the message to sink in, I think but now it’s one of her go-to’s. The drawings of the two characters really hook her as read the story. I really love having daddy-daughter storytime, it’s something I’ll always cherish, even if she forgets it.

Disclaimer: Thanks to TD for sponsoring this post and sending a copy of the Giraffe and Bird for us to read, over and over again. It’s a fun read and it’s great that TD are doing such an important giveaway to schools to encourage reading.