OTTAWA — Family Literacy Day, celebrated on Jan. 27, was created by Life Literacy Canada in 1999 to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in literacy-related activities as a family.

This year, the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is inviting young families to join us from Jan. 27 to 31, to watch TWEET TWEET! a circus performance by Femmes du Feu.

“Hop on the OPL’s YouTube channel any time starting Wednesday, Jan. 27 through to midnight on Sunday, Jan. 31 to treat you and your young ones to an enchanting show of circus artistry and storytelling,” the OPL released in a statement today (Jan. 14). “Watch TWEET TWEET!, a performance by local circus artists about a magical tree and two young birds that play and learn to fly in its branches.”

The piece follows two birds from sunrise to sunset.

“We watch the birds awaken in their nests on a spring morning, move through the dawn chorus, discover the tree and each other, play and search for food,” the OPL said. “Get cozy with your family at home or get together with friends in a virtual classroom and dive into the sensational universe of these birds. The OPL is a strong proponent of family literacy as a driver of learning and personal skill building.”

Year after year, OPL finds new ways to offer literacy programs and resources to meet the needs of new generations and to maximize literacy-building opportunities for the digital age.

“The Parenting section of our website features a wide array of digital resources to help parents, educators and teachers guide kids in their learning journey, such as Tumblebooks, Hoopla and much more,” the OPL said. “Available for some time now, our Take Home Storytimes are an excellent way to recreate the magic of the OPL story times  from the comfort of your home. So, parents, rest assured,  the Library has everything you could ask for and more! Make a difference every day and help your kids learn by talking, singing, reading, practicing their writing and playing with them. There is no better way to set your kids off on a rewarding and empowering path of lifelong learning.”

Please visit the OPL website to learn more about our literacy programs. For more information, visit BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.