The New Land: A First Year on the Prairie

Ethel King-Shaw is professor emerita of curriculum and instruction in
the Department of Teacher Preparation at the University of Calgary.

The author is a third-generation Canadian who has lived in different
parts of Canada. She was inspired to write this book about immigrants
after hearing family stories of life on the prairies in the early days.

A pioneer family of four arrives in Canada after a long ocean voyage.
Another long trip by train and then by a canvas-topped wagon takes them
to the site of their new home on the prairies. The father locates the
homestead’s water by divining. Next comes the building of a wooden
shack, which is later covered with slabs of sod. As winter approaches
logs are cut to burn in the stove and a wide fireguard is placed around
the house and barn as a protection against prairie fires. When spring
finally arrives, the family plants wheat, fruit trees, and a variety of
vegetables. It has been a busy year settling in on the prairies.

The pioneer experience comes to life for young children in this
realistic and informative account. The appealing illustrations emphasize
soft, muted colors. Highly recommended.