Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

It’s no secret that children are curious and have a desire to learn more about the world around them. Have you ever thought of your child as a young designer, inventor or engineer?

Kids of all ages discover the world through keen observation and experimentation, testing their ideas and spotting opportunities to create something new — usually in a room that has just been tidied! All of these innovative ideas make kids naturals at design thinking, a creative problem-solving process that empowers kids to design, create and prototype their own solutions to a problem.      

"The Art of Play" by Skokie Public Library. Used on a CC license.

Are you and your child ready to get creative? Take part in an online Mini Wonder Workshop and experience design thinking as a family. Wonder Workshops are not your average craft program. These workshops are based on design thinking principles and this year we’ve created two Mini Wonder Workshops as part of the Toronto Public Library's Summer Wonder programs for school-aged children.

The first workshop is an Adaptation Challenge inspired by Peter Brown’s book The Wild Robot. The workshop video is now available on TPL's YouTube channel. 

The second workshop, a Pollution Challenge inspired by Amy Sarig King’s book Me and Marvin Gardens, will be available on our YouTube channel on August 18.

But the design opportunities don’t stop there! Check out the Creativity Challenges on TPL Kids where your child can discover a STEM, writing or arts-based activity that you can do together. Recent challenges include Create a Time Machine , Every Bird Needs a Nest and Design a Dinosaur. These challenges are sure to inspire your child to try something new, discover a hobby or passion and become a lifelong learner.

We’d love to see what you’ve created. Share a picture of your Creativity Challenge results on social media by tagging @torontolibrary on Twitter and Instagram or @torontopubliclibrary on Facebook. You can use the tag #TPLSummerWonder.