The Kids Book of the Far North

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University and an avid outdoor recreationist. She is the
author of several books, including The Mountain Is Moving: Japanese
Women’s Lives, Kurlek and Margaret Laurence: T

The authors, who specialize in nonfiction books for children, have both
lived and worked in the North. Jocelyne Bouchard is a Montreal-based
graphic designer of books for children and young adults. This handsome,
large-format book complements Grades 4 to 7 social studies programs.

One-half illustration and one-half text, the book groups the material
in five sections: The Arctic Environment, Plant and Animal Life, Ancient
Peoples, Arctic Riches, and Everyday Life. A substantial index adds
greatly to its usefulness. Striking color illustrations brighten every
page. The authors’ imaginations help to make the information
memorable. The introductory material includes a Siberian fable, “The
Wind God’s Wife,” a tale of generosity and survival in the face of
keen adversity. The formatting is also well conceived and helpful; the
illustrations are of varying sizes and shapes that fit well into their
relevant contexts.

The Kids Book of the Far North is an excellent introduction to a
complex area of increasing importance to Canada. Highly recommended.