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The Kids Book of Canada.
Barbara Greenwood. Illustrated by Jock MacCrae.
Subject Headings:
Grades 3 - 6 / Ages 8 - 11.
**1/2 /4
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excerpt:
Although some Quebeckers want to separate from Canada, a small majority voted in the 1995 Referendum to remain. Their search for a way to be both French and Canadian continues.
Award-winning nonfiction author Barbara Greenwood has compiled this large-sized overview of Canada's history and geography. After an introduction to Canada complete with sidebars and fact boxes, Greenwood gives a brief four-page synopsis of important facts about each province and the territories. Although there is no index, students can easily follow the well-organized section for each province or territory. Greenwood covers the coat of arms, flowers, and flags, and provides a short summary of geographic areas and an encapsulation of critical points in each area's history. Because the text is so brief, often important events are not described in a meaningful way. For example, the excerpt highlighted above is the only mention of the critical issue of the Referendum in Quebec, and the statement does not indicate the effect of the debate on the rest of Canada.
The text, illustrated with color drawings and maps, is laid out in a clear and appealing style. Unfortunately the drawings of people like Jackson Beardy, Anne Murray and Michael Kusugak bear very little resemblance to the person depicted and are not attractive.
This new work on Canada will be a popular choice for libraries as there is very little information for this age level available. It is most useful as a browsing item, but the fact boxes and illustrations of emblems would make it a good reference source.
Recommended.
Lorraine Douglas is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Winnipeg Public Library, Winnipeg, MB
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © 1997 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
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - NOVEMBER 14, 1997.
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