The Junior Encyclopedia of Canada

Ashley Thomson is a full librarian at Laurentian University and co-editor or co-author of nine books, most recently Margaret Atwood: A Reference Guide, 1988-2005.

“When was Sudbury settled?” I asked my eight-year-old son.
Retrieving the S-Z volume from the Encyclopedia’s slipcase, he
provided me with the answer. But he didn’t stop there. Uninvited, he
began to browse through the volume, stopping at articles on sports, the
Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vancouver Canucks (while, I must admit,
passing by others, including ones on Barbara Smucker, the sparrow, and
the United Farmers of Manitoba). “This is really interesting,” he
commented.

For me, that remark was enough. Others, not yet exposed to this superb
set, might also like to know that it is up to date, has an excellent
index, and contains many photographs, maps, and charts, most of which
are beautifully reproduced in color. And the articles themselves,
written at an appropriate level, cover Canada comprehensively, excluding
only topics that have nothing to do with this country. (What a pleasure
to pick up an encyclopedia that doesn’t contain a profile of Ronald
Reagan!)

For the first time in writing more than 50 reviews, I can think of
nothing to criticize. This is a splendid set that deserves widespread
sales. And, because of generous subsidies from granting agencies, it is
a bargain. For those who cannot wait to find out, Sudbury was settled in
1883.