About the Library

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre's Toronto office houses a reference collection of almost every Canadian children’s book published since 1976. Our library staff is dedicated to answering your questions about the world of Canadian children's books and publishing. Our library is available to visitors by either calling 416.975.0010 or emailing us for an appointment.

Amongst the shelves are much-loved classics such as Anne of Green Gables, Who Has Seen the Wind and The Bells on Finland Street, as well as new gems from emerging authors and illustrators.

Treasures include first edition signed copies of Ted Harrison's A Northern Alphabet and Kenneth Oppel’s very first book, Colin’s Fantastic Video Adventure, as well as books signed by award-winning authors and illustrators such as Martha Brooks, Margaret Buffie, Budge Wilson and Wallace Edwards.

The walls of the Toronto collection showcase original artwork by artists including Marie-Louise Gay, Barbara Reid, Ted Harrison, Ian Wallace, Bill Slavin, Maryann Kovalski, Kady MacDonald Denton and Brenda Clark.

In addition to the library collection in Toronto, the CCBC also maintains four regional children’s book collections housed at the Education Library at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the Herbert T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, the Elizabeth Dafoe Library at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and at Mount Saint Vincent University Library in Halifax.