Little Pria's Big Canadian Adventure

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Pria has travelled all the way from India to her new home in Canada. She
is anxious to see her new house and wonders if she’ll be able to make
new friends. But most of all, Pria wants to know what Canada and
Canadians are like. With the help of a small but most unusual wooden
Canada goose purchased from an airport gift shop and a mysterious red
maple leaf, Pria embarks on a magical journey during which she makes
some important discoveries about her new home and country. She learns
that Canada is a beautiful country where people help and care for one
another. She finds out that Canadians come in all colours and shapes and
sizes and from many different countries with different backgrounds and
customs. But the most interesting thing that Pria learns is that the
important thing about being a Canadian is to be yourself.

This gentle story would be an excellent read-aloud for primary-grade
classrooms to encourage appreciation of individual differences and
promote self-esteem. School and public libraries will find it a valuable
addition to their multicultural collections.

Angela Hodge’s finely detailed pastel illustrations add to the
enjoyment, except for those of Pria herself. Depicting her with an
oversized head and prominent “buggy” eyes, they tend to be
off-putting, for this reader, at least.

Cornucopia Books is a new multicultural publishing company whose goal
is to promote “acceptance, awareness and appreciation of the cultural
diversity that flourishes in our country and throughout the world.”
Little Pria’s Big Canadian Adventure does meet that goal without
becoming too preachy. Recommended.