1960s. (Canadian Decades). Rosemary Shipton. Calgary, AB: Weigl, 2012. 48 pp., pbk. & hc, $11.95 (pbk.), $27.95 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-77071-727-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-77071-716-9 (hc.). Subject Headings: Canada-History-1945-1963-Juvenile literature. Canada-History-1963- -Juvenile literature. Grades 4-8 / Ages 9-13. Review by Kay Weisman. *** /4

excerpt:

Canada was 100 years old on July 1, 1967, and centennial celebrations were held across the country. Many communities built a special building to celebrate the event—a theatre, art gallery, library, swimming pool, or baseball diamond. The Centennial Train and Caravans travelled everywhere, and 10 million people visited these mobile museums. In the Voyageur Pageant, 12 canoes paddled the historic fur-trade route between Alberta and Montreal. The Centennial Tattoo celebrated 300 years of military history, and the Pan-American Games were held in Winnipeg.

Shipton introduces readers to this tumultuous decade with a timeline and brief surveys of significant disasters, entertainment, trends, world events, political issues, literature, science and technology, sports, the economy, fashion, immigration, music and the arts, society, and Canada/U.S. Relations. Each topic receives one or two double-paged spreads filled with short articles, numerous period photos, charts, and lists. The spread on “Trends,” for example, includes mention of the rise of youth culture, the decline in church attendance, Canada’s 1967 centennial celebration, and resurgence in attention paid to Aboriginal culture and traditions.

     While the coverage is Canada-centric wherever possible, U.S. events and figures (including the Kennedy assassination, U.S. civil rights demonstrations, landing on the moon, the Vietnam War, and Woodstock) appear frequently as well. Overall, the coverage is solid, although the inclusion of three activities (in reality, paper and pencil tests) may well leave readers feeling instructed. Appended with a glossary, bibliography, web links, and index, 1960s will be welcomed by browsers and useful in history classes.

Recommended.

Kay Weisman is a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature candidate at the University of British Columbia.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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