Newton Elementary students featured on CBC Kids Reads

The Newton Elementary class had a blast filming for the CBC Kids Reads segment. (Image: Amy Newman)
A group of Grade 2 students from Newton Elementary made their television debut on Thursday as part of the 2024 edition of CBC Kids Reads.

The annual children’s book showcase, now in its second year, is a celebration of picture books from across Canada and sees each contender present their book through a series of activities like dance, song, baking and art.

As part of each book’s segment, children from across Canada are featured discussing a book and their experience reading it. It was during this portion that the Newton Elementary students were featured talking about Asha and the Toymaker.

Written and illustrated by Vancouver author Sakshi Mangal, Asha and the Toymaker is a story set in India about a father who makes and sells toys to send his daughter Asha to school. The book explores the relationship between Asha and her father and was inspired by Mangal’s own childhood in India.

Amy Newman, principal of Newton Elementary, said the Grade 2 students were excited at the prospect of appearing on television and were eager to share their love of the book.

“They all got to hold up the book and do some group cheers about it,” she said. “Then they all got to be interviewed in pairs and express why they liked the book for the cameras.”

For many of the students, the standout features of Asha and the Toymaker were the South Asian characters and setting, which many were able to identify with.

“A lot of them talked about how the characters looked like them or their grandpa and it was really great seeing them express excitement at feeling represented in a book like that,” said Newman.

Students also took particular interest in the camera and equipment, with many curious about how the camera worked.

“The CBC film crew were so wonderful, and the kids had an amazing time,” said Newman. “They showed the students how the camera worked and let them pretend to film each other.”

To learn more about CBC Kids Reads and to watch Newton Elementary’s segment on, click here.