Canada Little Free Libraries visited by TORC the CAT

Making a Difference, One Book at a Time! #SMILESwithTORC

TORC visited a total of 30 Little Free Libraries in Calgary, Alberta, where he donated 60 books. The first-time finders got a coloring book as a bonus to the matching TORC the CAT children's books.

TORC is a beautiful rescued tuxedo cat. He has 2 book series based on his kind and adventurous nature. The TORC the CAT book collection is designed to teach young readers a few fun facts about animals.

Considering Canada's wealth and resources, a disproportionate number of Canadians are living in poverty. Poverty affects millions of Canadians. Income inequality is growing and recent estimates indicate over 14% of Canadians suffer from low income. Many more live precariously from paycheque to paycheque and are at risk of falling into poverty. Child poverty rates are not declining and food security is an issue for far too many. It is estimated that over 150,000 Canadians are homeless on any given day. Source: Canadian Poverty Institute

In Alberta, approximately 27 per cent of children beginning school are experiencing difficulty in one or more areas of development, including language, thinking and social skills—a rate higher than the Canadian average of 25 per cent. -The Alberta Approach to Early Childhood Development

Why is TORC donating his books to Little Free Libraries around the country? Because he believes all children from all backgrounds should have easy access to books year-round at home.

Why does having access to even a relatively small set of books seem to make such a big difference? The U.S. Department of Education maintains that independent reading is a widely recognized precursor to:

• Better skills acquisition

• Superior grades

• Desirable life related to income, profession, employment, and other attributes.