Supervisor Akhansha Fernando reads to children as parent Ranjith Rajan watches on, at the Sherbourne Street location of the Children’s Book Bank in Toronto on Saturday.Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail
Akhansha Fernando wrestled for the attention of Rene Julian, a two-year-old who seemed more interested in throwing around a stuffed koala than listening to the children’s stories she was reading aloud in a singsong voice.
It took some coaxing – and a rendition of Wheels on the Bus – but Rene eventually settled in front of Ms. Fernando, eyes wide and focused on the picture book.
Ms. Fernando, 20, was leading a storytime session this past Saturday at the Sherbourne Street location of the Children’s Book Bank, a non-profit organization in Toronto that gives away free books to children and teens. She and her 17-year-old sister, Reiticka, used to come to the book bank when they were young, and now both are part-time staff.
“I benefited from these books as a child. I was able to go and get books, and now I can help kids that come in choose their books,” Reiticka said.
The organization is celebrating its 18th anniversary this month and is on track to soon hand out its two-millionth book.Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail
This week, the Children’s Book Bank will reach a milestone: It will give away its two millionth free book since its inception in 2008. At a time when attention spans are shrinking and children are growing up surrounded by digital content, the book bank proves that physical books can still capture kids’ curiosity, if only given the opportunity.
Shelley Nicholls, executive director of the book bank, said the organization wants to be as “accessible as possible.” Children do not need an address or a membership card to take home a book, and programming is free at all four Toronto locations.
“The goal is for you to have a feeling of belonging,” Ms. Nicholls said.
Ms. Fernando plays with Rene Julian,two, at Sherbourne Street.Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail
Last Saturday, the book bank held its monthly donation drive, in which it typically receives 7,000 to 8,000 books from parents, kids, authors and other members of the community. Most of these books don’t stay on the shelves for long, as the book bank is constantly giving them away, including through partner organizations like food banks, community centres and family shelters.
The non-profit said it gave away 185,000 books in 2025 alone.
Rene’s father, Ranjith Rajan, said they have been coming to the book bank since his son was three or four months old. It has become a weekly ritual for the family, with Rene choosing two books to take home every visit, usually about animals, a subject matter he loves.
Kaaren Mastache reads to her five-year-old twin daughters, Lucia Tenorio, left, and Olivia Tenorio.Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail
Families who visit the same location frequently get to know the staff and the staff know them by name, Reiticka said. “I feel like that builds a connection that they realize ‘Oh, the book bank is a safe and welcoming environment,’ ” she said.
The staff help children and parents find books that are appropriate for kids’ age and reading level. Board books are available for beginner readers before they graduate to picture books, then eventually to junior and teen novels. Staff assist parents in choosing levelled readers, which are books labelled according to increasing complexity for children as they progress in their reading journeys.
Mary Beth Leatherdale, a Toronto-based children’s book writer and editor who volunteers at the book bank, said children benefit from frequent exposure to a variety of books because as they begin to recognize words on a page, they also start to understand grammar, sentence structure and punctuation – all of which help in their reading and writing.
A note from a child at Sherbourne Street.Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail
Ms. Leatherdale launched a book club at the book bank’s Sherbourne Street location to help young readers improve their literacy skills, and develop strategies for reading longer books.
The Children’s Book Bank’s programming gives kids “another way of learning,” Ms. Nicholls said. Storytimes and book clubs veer away from the rigidity of classroom learning that children are used to. “And it’s just like, ‘Oh, I forgot that reading could be like that,’ ” she said.
Rene spent the rainy Saturday morning listening to stories, playing with alphabet-shaped blocks and scribbling in different colours. After he depleted his energy, Mr. Rajan tucked him into his stroller, ready to go home. Rene was wheeled out of the book bank, clutching this week’s pick – a book all about gorillas and chimpanzees.