Friesens producing 600,000 books for TD Grade One Book Giveaway

Friesens Corporation continues to promote the love of reading and literacy in all Canadian children, for the present and for their future.
    
For the 23rd year, the Altona-based book manufacturer is sponsoring the Canadian Children’s Grade One Book Giveaway, printing and producing around 600,000 books that are given as a free gift to every grade one student across the country.

For 2023, through the TD Grade One Book Giveaway, Friesens was proud to print the book Chaiwala!, written by Priti Birla Maheshwari, illustrated by Ashley Barron and published by Owlkids Books. The book was also translated into French so that francophone Canadians and French immersion students across Canada will receive copies of the French translation.

"Friesens has always been a strong advocate in promoting the benefits of literacy and ensuring that we use every opportunity to instill the love of books and love of reading to every child. The greatest gift we can give our children is the ability to read and form a love for the written word, helping them to increase their knowledge and understanding of the world around them," stated a company news release.

Press operator, Wade Linklater, works on this year's book. Supplied photo.

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre donated the books, and Friesens covered the freight and logistics to get them to their destination. 

"Friesens has over 116 years of experience in book manufacturing, and we are happy to be a part of these sponsorship programs as we continue to help our customers share their best story with the world through the power of print."
    
Here in the Pembina Valley, we at CFAM 950, Country 88 and The Eagle 93-5 will help deliver about 1,000 books as we partner with Friesens for I Love to Read Month in February.

We will be reading to Grade 3 students across the region and after, each kid will receive a book courtesy of Friesens.

Nicole Klassen reads to students during a stop for last year's I Love to Read Month

This year's tale is Fishing with Grandma. Adventure begins when grandma takes her two grandchildren out for a trip to the lake. After showing the kids how to prepare for a fishing trip, grandma and the kids enjoy a day of jigging in the ice for fish. Grandma shows them every step they need to know to complete a successful fishing trip, from what clothes to wear, to how to drill and clear holes in the ice, to how to make a traditional Inuit jigging rod. By the end of the day, the kids have a yummy meal of Arctic Char, and they have also learned everything they need to know to go out on the lake on their own.