County Kids Read Receives Municipal and Parrott Foundation Grants

We are very pleased to announce that County Kids Read has been awarded a Municipal Grant and a grant from the Parrott Foundation.

The Municipal Grant will be used to purchase Board Books for our program with a focus on three early intervention programs - Babies and Beyond, Prescription to Read, and Books for County Babies.

The Parrot Foundation Grant will be used to implement a literacy, learning and well-being response project to address pressing issues that have arisen due to the pandemic, including learning gaps and increased anxiety among school children ages 5 to 12. By distributing learning kits and mental health kits, we will reinforce literacy skills and development, and alleviate the levels of worry and anxiety for our most vulnerable children. 

Donation from Costmary Book Club

Anne Preston of County Kids Read receives a donation from the Costmary Book Club. The donation was made in honour and with fond memories of their friend and colleague Pauline Jenkins. Presenting the cheque is Carolynn Whiteley with Jill Hill.

PEC Helping PEC - COVID19 Fund

County Kids Read has received a grant from the PEC Helping PEC - Covid 19 Fund. Funding will allow County Kids Read to purchase books to distribute to County families with a focus on supporting early literacy development in children from birth to Grade three. Books will be both non-fiction, fiction and will include books focusing on anxiety and mental health. "With the impact of COVID-19 on the start of the school year, many children are experiencing higher levels of worry and distress."  CAHM (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto)

County Kids Read Donates Books to Grade 5 Students at PECI

As class visits to CKR’s Book Room are not currently possible because of COVID, we’ve had to rethink how we can get books to the children safely during these challenging times. Many of the elementary grade teachers at PECI are kindly making themselves available after school to come in and choose books for their students.

County Kids Read at Festival of Trees 2020

This beautiful tree and wonderful selection of children’s books is the County Kids Read tree for the annual Festival of Trees campaign. The auction begins November 12 at 10 a.m. and runs through to November 29 at 9 p.m. All proceeds go to the Prince Edward County hospital auxiliary. This year’s festival will take place on-line at www.pecfestivaloftrees.ca.

County Kids Read Provides Learning Kits and Books for Young Students at PECI

County Kids Read volunteers Anne Preston and Brenda Franks finished packaging, organizing and distributing the home-learning kits and books to teachers at PECI.  A big thank you to Brenda for  organizing all of this.  In all, 72 learning kits were put together and 135 books were handed out. Over 50% of the students received learning kits. The teachers were most appreciative. In conversation, they told us that during pandemic school closures they are are not reaching 50 - 65% of the students in their classes. 

County Kids Read Receives Grant from Emergency Communities Support Fund

County Kids Read would like to thank the County Foundation and the Community Foundations of Canada Team for approving our grant request under the Emergency Communities Support Fund.

The Fund provides financial support to charities adapting their front-line services to support vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will enable County Kids Read to provide books and learning packages to children in need in the County and to help ensure that our most vulnerable children do not become more vulnerable during this pandemic.

If you would like to donate to County Kids Read and the important work that we do, please consider making a donation, either on a yearly or monthly basis on this website.

Online Storytime for Toddlers

Here is an online storybook list that one of our County Kids Read volunteers compiled for her 3 year-old granddaughters.  Maybe your children will enjoy them too.

Brown Bear Brown Bear  https://youtu.be/pdHCYgO9zh8 

Harry the Dirty Dog  https://www.storylineonline.net/books/harry-the-dirty-dog/ 

Madeline  https://youtu.be/JZQ3Or84G9U 

Noah's Ark  https://vimeo.com/56055146 

Owl Babies  https://vimeo.com/55971653 

Penguin  https://vimeo.com/58744168 

The Rainbow Fish  https://youtu.be/r9mryuEKkKc

The Snowy Day  https://youtu.be/QYWodTneq-Q 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit  https://youtu.be/p_LeUSA-qIg

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly  https://youtu.be/Q4TMlrXkDMI 

This is Our House  https://vimeo.com/58214461 

You're All My Favourites  https://vimeo.com/53710714 

We're Going on a Bear Hunt  https://youtu.be/Iou5LV9dRP0 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar  https://youtu.be/vkYmvxP0AJI 

The Three Bears  https://youtu.be/7C_b0-D8KMk 

Distribution of Books Through County Food Banks

During this challenging time, County Kids Read has been providing free books for children through the local food banks in the County; i.e., Wellington Storehouse, Picton United Church, and the Salvation Army. Beginning this Friday we shall also be providing free books at the Picton Food Terminal (Picton Town Hall).

Story Time with County Kids Read

Parents, caregivers and kids be sure to include a story in your day.  The County Kids Read Facebook Page and the PEC Public Library are now featuring Story Time. Every day there will be a new link to a reading of a delightful children's book such as Harry the Dirty Dog, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Please Please the Bees, Strega Nona and many more.