Should Canada Have an Elected Senate? (Canadian Issues). Megan Kopp. Calgary, AB: Weigl, 2013. 48 pp., pbk. & hc., $14.95 (pbk.), $27.95 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-77071-232-4 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-77071-218-8 (hc.). Subject Headings: Canada. Parliament. Senate-Reform-Juvenile literature. Canada. Parliament. Senate-Elections-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-5 / Ages 8-10. Review by Michelle Brown. **1/2 /4

excerpt:

When Canada’s Fathers of Confederation were planning the government of the new nation, they decided that the House of Commons would be elected and that Senate positions would be appointed. The decision to make the Senate an appointed house was a major topic of debate at the time. It remains a major topic of debate today.

Should Canada Have an Elected Senate? is one title in a new series from Canadian publisher Weigl. In an innovative debate style, this series, “Canadian Issues”, explores important social, political and economic concerns facing Canada today. Both sides of the issue are represented, but readers are required to flip the book over in order to explore the opposing argument.

     Each side of the debate contains a table of contents to help readers orient themselves in the book. Each half features the same short chapters which give background information on the topic, the main arguments for and against the issue, as well as some information on key political players and their roles in the Senate. Each side ends with a list of suggested activities as well as a quiz and a colourful concept map. These added features are a welcome addition for teachers who will find many great ideas for class discussions or other projects.

     In general, the layout of the book is quite appealing. There is a good use of white space (not too text heavy), and there are lots of maps, images and full colour photographs to maintain reader interest. There is no glossary, however difficult vocabulary is bolded in the body of the text and then explained in a sidebar on the same page.

     Should Canada Have an Elected Senate? presents the potentially dry and complicated topic of Canadian politics to young readers in a style that is straightforward and easy to read. The debate format of the book is a great way to encourage critical thinking and discussion skills – it will be interesting to see what other debate style books are created by this publisher. This title would be a welcome addition to any classroom library.

Recommended.

Michelle Brown is a librarian in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, ON.

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

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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