Marilla and Matthew. Offred. Golgotha Gingham. Mutt. Hagar Shipley, Dag, Claire and Andy, Elfrieda Von Riesen, Pi.
Recognize some of those names? They’re just a few of the characters brought to life by Canadian authors. Hopefully you’ve been entranced by the stories of these characters. But let’s back up a bit. Before you read Atwood, Lawrence, Mowat or Martel, you might have read Gordon Korman, Phoebe Gilman, Robert Munsch or Jean Little.
Why is that important? Today is I Read Canadian Day.
The I Read Canadian Fund supports getting new, Canadian books into the hands of young people across the country. Additionally, this fund supports the expansion of the children’s choice reading programs into Indigenous, rural and priority communities, and most importantly the delivery of new books to young people. You can learn more about it – and join me in donating – here. Let’s get kids excited about reading for fun!
It’s great that kids have books. And even better that Canadian kids read Canadian books. But I wonder how many of us, who live north of the 49th parallel make a point of ensuring we continue to read Canadian authors as we grow up.
I often ask for one of the Giller Prize Short List books for Christmas, and endeavour to read it (or them, depending on the year!) in the winter months. But I admit that I have not actively sought out Canadian authors. That’s changing now that I can count myself in their numbers. Suddenly that’s more important to me.
So I encourage you to support Canadian children’s authors and adult authors. And maybe one day we can add Fiona and Linney, the protagonist in my work in progress, to the list of characters Canadians recognize.
Happy reading!
