Dear Canada/Cher Canada: A Love Letter to My Country

Barbara M. Buetter conducts creative-writing workshops for children and
is the author of Simple Puppets from Everyday Materials.

Dear Canada/Cher Canada is a collection of letters, poems, stories,
drawings, and paintings from school children across the country. As
noted in the foreword, the book’s objective is not only to demonstrate
Canadian children’s pride and desire for national unity, but also to
“try to capture the hopes, dreams and essence of Canada.” The
collection is designed to resemble a scrapbook, with text and artwork on
each spread and a balance of English and French throughout.

The book’s 400 selections give us insight into the lives and feelings
of children from highly diverse backgrounds. Towns and cities, farms and
fishing villages, and even remote Arctic communities are represented
here. There are pictures of children joining hands, cityscapes and
landscapes, favorite pastimes, and historical characters. Common themes
include a love of nature and sports, and an appreciation for Canada’s
clean and safe environment. Newcomers to the country express their
feelings of hope and freedom.

All in all, an excellent addition to home and school libraries. Highly
recommended.