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TORONTO – Maple’s Garden, a vibrant new children’s book by CCF Litigation Director Christine Van Geyn, is now available on Amazon and at Chapters and Indigo. The beautifully-illustrated story introduces young readers to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms through Maple, a young girl who wants to express herself and her beliefs about nature and beauty through her wild garden. When a meddling mayor threatens her pollinator-friendly plants, Maple discovers the power of using her voice to stand up for her individual rights.

Inspired by real Canadian case law, Maple’s Garden brings important civic themes to life in a way that’s easy to follow. Canadian artist Lisa Ng’s colourful, whimsical illustrations make it the perfect resource for classrooms, families, libraries, and anyone dedicated to helping kids understand their rights and the world around them.

“There has never been a more important time to talk to our children about freedom of speech,” said Van Geyn. “It is a value that our civilization won’t have if we don’t pass it down. Maple’s Garden explains the concept of free speech and tolerating differences in opinion in a very gentle way that is easy and intuitive for children to understand. Parents need resources to help them talk to kids about these issues, and explain the concept of fundamental rights, showing kids that their voices matter and that we shouldn’t try to silence others. My hope is that kids will see the Charter as more than just words in an old document; it’s a real tool they can use to push back when the system feels unfair. Too many people are losing their grasp of the values in our constitution and why freedom of speech, debate and dialogue matters, which is why these lessons need to start early.”