We chose to read Run Salmon Run—a lyrical tale we wrote together about the salmon life cycle. The book complements the song and educational iOS app we also created under the same title. We love how Lori Joy Smith's wonderful illustrations really bring the story to life, and we hope CHEO families enjoy them too! 

Bobs: I loved Thomas' Snowsuit by Robert Munsch. I still love reading that book to my own children now! 

 

LoLo: My absolute favourite book as a child was Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. I remember loving the story—even if the narrative made me cry. I loved watching my daughter read Charlotte's Web for the first time last year.  

Bobs: Alice in Wonderland so I could meet the Cheshire Cat!

LoLo: Laura Ingalls! Even though the adult in me now sees the difficulties of being a pioneer, the child in me still daydreams about the Little House on the Prairies life. 

Bobs: Children’s books because I enjoy reading to my kids so much! 

LoLo: Historical fiction! I'm still drawn to emotional and dramatic storytelling although my choices these days tend to be a bit heavier than spiders and pigs! 

The story I chose was Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman. This was one of my daughters’ favourite books growing up, and I think there’s something truly special about it. While my daughters have grown out of having me read to them, re-reading this now really brings me back to that time.

My favourite childhood story was The Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scary. My brother and I must have read it hundreds of times, and we’d always search for the little gold bug on every page. It was a really special bonding time for us growing up. 

Without a doubt, Nancy Drew! Smart, witty, resourceful, and independent... she was definitely an inspiration to me growing up, and a very positive role model. 

I find that Science Fiction is my go-to these days. I love that the genre touches on key issues in society, morality, and governance, and I think it encourages us to think outside the box.  

I chose to read When We Were Alone, because it’s an important book for children to learn about residential schools in a gentle way. Everybody needs to know this history, and good books help to teach. 

My favourite story growing up was a book called Tom’s Midnight Garden. It’s a middle grade book that I read all the time. I loved it because it was the first book that used time travel as a plot device, and it’s really inspired me as a writer even today. 

I think I’d like to be Tom. He got to see the world in the past over the course of many years, and his experience with puppy love was very sweet, believable, and heart warming. 

I read all types of books now. I read picture books, comics, fiction and non-fiction, young adult and middle grade, adult. I think it’s important to read all kinds of books because each book teaches us about the world we live in, and about each other. 

I chose Franklin Goes to the Hospital because it represents what a lot of the children at CHEO are going through. Franklin got sick, went to the hospital and got better with the help of his amazing doctors and nurse. Franklin's friends and family were also there to support him every step of the way. Just like Franklin, I know the children at CHEO are getting the best care possible.  

Anne of Green Gables was my favourite story growing up. It's set in Canada and I think a lot of young girls can see themselves in Anne. She is brave, passionate and spirited. I enjoyed reading about her adventures and aspirations in Green Gables and seeing her grow into a young woman.

I would pick Anne from Anne of Green Gables because she is fiercely independent and has big dreams. She has an active imagination, which brightens up the town, and she is intelligent with literary ambitions. Anne never loses sight of her dreams and even wins the Avery Scholarship awarded to the top student in English. I see a lot of her character in a younger version of myself.

I love reading all types of books but my favourite are biographies. Through biographies, we can learn about peoples' lives, their experiences and the people they loved and cared for. They also teach us valuable life lessons.  I really enjoy historical and political biographies about strong women in history including Clementine Churchill, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Audrey Hepburn.

I'm reading the book Together, Apart: Life during the Coronavirus. I wrote this book, and my mother illustrated the book. We decided to make this book because many children were confused and had questions about the Coronavirus, like why we have to stay home. Some children have been afraid, or alone, and I wanted to show children everywhere that we are all in this together, but apart. Even though these are difficult days, there is still a lot of good to be found; we can spend more family time together, play games, and go outside for bike rides and walks. I have been so happy to hear so much positive feedback from children, teachers, caregivers, and health care workers about this book! The most important part, besides a touching story that helps children see they're not alone, is that proceeds from this book are going back to CHEO and Kids Help Phone. 

My favourite story growing up was Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume. I remember I was at home, sick, the day of the Scholastic Book Fair at my school, when I was in Grade 4. My mother went to the school for me, and selected this book, thinking I would like it--I did! I loved it, and that book started my love of reading. From that point on I was never without a book in my hands, and I read everything as a child and young teenager, from Sweet Valley Twins to The Baby-Sitters Club and everything in between! Currently, I'm loving the Harry Potter series, which I'm reading with my 12 year old. Some of my favourite books also include anything by Stephen King, and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, A Prayer For Owen Meany, and Angela's Ashes. 

If I could be a story book character I would want to be someone like Hermione Granger. She's smart, well-spoken, and strong-willed; she's pretty strong! 

I always have a few books piled up on my night table, and usually read around 3 books at the same time. Right now I am reading Educated, Talking to Strangers, and The Handmaid's Tale. 

I picked Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch.  It is a funny story with a good message that everyone should try to be their own person and not copy what others are doing just because they think it might be "cool".  You are the best version of yourself.

Ants: Amazing Facts & Pictures for Children on These Amazing Creatures by Hathai Ross: "Ants have been around for millions of years, and are possibly even older than dinosaurs. They are among the most successful creatures on earth, having survived for a very long time. They can adapt to various environments and they can be found in almost every corner of the world, except the freezing regions of the Antarctic."

The story teaches you what ants look like, where they live and what they eat, and some amazing facts about their way of life in the colony and how they behave.

I love this question because Ant-Man is also storybook (comic) character so I would be myself. I would choose Ant-Man because he studied electronics in school and became an Engineer so is very good with technology. Ant-man uses technology and science for his suit to give him the ability to shrink to the size of an ant, without needing any superpowers! He uses that ability to help others and keep people safe, and shows that even when you are very small, you can still accomplish big things!

My favourite types of books to read now are ones that teach me new things and new skills so that I can use those to help people even more when I do my work as a superhero.

I chose Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. It's one of my favorite books and I think it has a great message to everyone. It's a reminder that life is full of possibilities, that setbacks are a normal part of the process and that not matter what if you keep moving forward you’ll always be alright.

My favorite story growing up was The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

If I could be any storybook character I would choose one of the characters from the novel series Narnia. It was one of the first novels I ever read and I fell in love with magical worlds and magical beings then. I’ve always wanted to live in a magical world so I would have lots of fun being one of those characters. 

I love any book that can teach me something. I love to read to learn new things, and to expand my mind to new worlds of thinking.

The Dot - by Peter H. Reynolds. It’s a book I’ve read many times to my daughters when they were growing up. It has a positive and inspirational message: To believe in yourself, and others.  

The Hockey Sweater -  Roch Carrie. The Hockey Sweater was my favourite book from my childhood. It was very popular across Canada.  A line from the story actually appears on Canadian $5.00 bills as a part of the Canadian Journey banknote series printed between 2001 – 2013. 

“ The winters of my childhood were long, long seasons. We lived in three places – the school, the church and the skating rink – but our real life was on the skating rink." 

I always liked Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.  He’s positive, happy, outgoing, full of energy and has a love for life, his family and friends.  

 I love to read biographies. I enjoy reading about people who have left their mark and learn about who and what helped them along the way.