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Department of Family and Community Medicine and St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team

Services: Reach Out and Read Program

A toddler looks at a book

Literacy plays an important role in health and wellness, especially for children.

The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that health care providers discuss the importance of reading with parents and provide resources.

In January 2015, we launched a Reach Out and Read initiative, based on a successful early childhood literacy program that started in Boston and has expanded throughout the United States. As part of this program, physicians and nurses offer parents advice about childhood literacy and provide children ages 0-6 years with books and information on local resources at well child visits.

This program is possible because of our important partnerships with Toronto Public Library, First Book Canada, and The Children’s Book Bank.

Poster: Prescribing Literacy For Preschool Children (2016)

Information for parents

Canadian Pediatric Society
- Read, Speak, Sing Information for Parents and Video

Reach Out and Read
- Milestones of Early Literacy Development

Toronto Public Libraries
- Birth to 5 and Kids Space

  • Parliament Street Library: 269 Gerrard St. E.
  • Riverdale Library: 370 Broadview Ave.
  • St. James Town Branch: 495 Sherbourne St.
  • St. Lawrence Library: 171 Front St. E.