A fourth grade teacher, a land of talking animals, and a gross Turkish Delight got Kurtis Kolt, Wine Consultant and Writer, excited about reading as a child.

In honour of that excitement Kurtis donated the fantasy novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (or Jack as Kurtis later discovered). Hear why Kurtis thinks this book will spark a hunt for tiny doors.

Charlie Demers donated the funny and reality bending book: Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Charlie loves the stories of Mrs. Gorf, the meanest teacher of all, terrible Todd, who always gets sent home early, and John who can read only upside down—along with all the other kids in the crazy mix-up school that came out sideways.

Charlie hopes kids would take away at least three things from this tremendously imaginative book. Listen to what they are here.  

As a child Barbara Chirinos, of Vancouver International Film Festival, could always be found in the library reading Nancy Drew, encyclopedias and escaping to different lands through books.

Barbara discusses the power of books, the importance of stories and their connection to film. Listen here. 

Tegan and Sara Quinn with A Good Book Drive donations. Sara Quinn gets asked, “What are you reading?” so often she wrote this article about it saying:

“Sometimes, it’s the question I get asked immediately after someone has approached me and said, “Are you who I think you are?”. It always makes me excited to talk about books and reading with people. But I always feel panicked about WHAT book to recommend. Sometimes my mind goes completely blank- as if I’ve never read a page of anything in my life.”

If you’re seeking inspiration for new titles to read check out Sara Quinn’s Book List.

Like Harriet the Spy, Kay Thody of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society carefully observed her neighbours and shared her thoughts as practice for her future career as a child detective.

Kay tells us how her adventures riding a Big Wheels around a culdesac in Northern Alberta inspired her A Good Book Drive donation. Listen here.

The stories of Toot and Puddle have played a huge role in the home of Aart Schuurman Hess, CEO if the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Aart shares the stories of two best friends, Toot that travels the world and Puddle that stays at home, and how he hopes a story of two pigs teaches kids that: “Traveling is awesome and coming home is even better!” Listen here.

Lauren Bryant, Copywriter at Lululemon Athletica, was full of sunshine when talking about her book donation Little Miss Sunshine here. Her bookplate reads…

Name: Lauren Bryant
Find me online: laurenandarrow
Why I love this book: I love this book because it proves that one person CAN change the world (or at least a town)!

It came as no shock when Jim Chu, Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department, donated books from the Encyclopedia Brown series. Encyclopedia Brown is a kid detective in the business of solving crime. 

Chief Chu also donate To Kill a Mockingbird, the first book he read, as a kid, that dealt with serious issues like rape and racial inequality. Chief Chu discusses the book, thinking independently, and the integrity of defending an unpopular cause here.

Peter Schaad, Whitecaps play-by-play broadcaster/TEAM 1410, donated a book based on the famous Clement C. Moore’s poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Hear why Peter thinks this book should be in every child’s life here.

Stepan Vdovine, Executive Director of Vision Vancouver, says it was his librarian grandmother that gave him a passion for reading as a child. Stepan revels over the stories of Mark Twain and the relevant lessons for life that can be found on the pages of his books. 

Stepan talks about the power of persuasion and how a story of Tom Sawyer impacted his life here.