Help Children in Hospital Find Their Own Story

Bringing the Healing Power of Stories to Young Patients Across Manitoba

We’re raising funds for the Pediatric Literacy Outreach Initiative, a new and growing program that delivers the joy, comfort, and empowerment of storytelling to children from communities across Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut receiving inpatient care at HSC Children’s Hospital.

This innovative program was started by two Manitoban pediatricians, Drs. Ruth Grimes and Ming-Ka Chan from the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health. The work is supported by many including author Sigmund Brouwer, residents, other faculty, healthcare professionals, hospital librarian, hospital teachers, Children’s Hospital TV (CHTV) staff, Child Life staff and community members. It builds upon existing literacy programming through the library, Child Life, CHTV, neonatology, outpatient, and community offices.

Launched on I Read Canadian Day in Nov 2024, this program is designed to help children imagine, learn, and simply be kids—even in the middle of a hospital stay.

What is Find Your Own Story?

Find Your Own Story is a digital and in-person literacy outreach initiative that connects children and their families and care partners with:

• A Story Time Channel featuring readings by pediatricians, residents, healthcare professionals, hospital staff, celebrities and authors
• Books and readings in many languages that represent diverse cultures, communities and lived experiences
• Virtual workshops led by Canadian authors where children and youth can learn to write and illustrate their own stories
• Free books for children to keep after their hospital stay—because a story of your own is a powerful thing

Children and youth can explore the site from the hospital, clinic, long term care facility, school, or home and discover familiar faces reading the stories that shaped them. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to use the platform as part of care—helping families and care partners read together with children, build bonds, and boost both emotional wellbeing and literacy.

Why Stories Matter

This project was started because of a love of reading and a belief in the magic of stories. Research shows that literacy improves children’s cognitive, emotional and even physical well-being.

This initiative aims to:

• Improve literacy and health in children, youth, and caregivers
• Offer a joyful, creative escape from the stress of illness or injury
• Reflect every child’s identity and story in the books they read and listen to.
• Build bridges between patients and healthcare professionals through shared stories

“For a few minutes, a child in hospital can forget about tests or treatments and focus on something joyful and entirely their own—a story.”

– Dr. Ming-Ka Chan & Dr. Ruth Grimes, Co-Chairs of the Pediatric Literacy Outreach Initiative

Help Grow the Library

Your donation helps to:

• Fund books for kids in hospital to take home and treasure
• Support author visits to HSC Children’s Hospital and schools across the province during I Read Canadian and I Love to Read Month
• Expand the program to reach even more communities
• Add new readings in multiple languages and from diverse voices

Why Donors Matter

When you give to this initiative, you’re doing more than buying books—you’re giving children and youth a tool for connection, healing, and lifelong learning. You’re helping a child feel themselves in a story and you’re also building a healthier, more literate future—one story at a time.

Every story starts somewhere. Help us write and share the next chapter—with kids, for kids.