The Kids Book of Canada

Janet Collins is a freelance writer in Sechelt, British Columbia.

Imagine more than 400 years of Canadian history and culture packed into less than 60 pages. Greenwood makes clever use of timelines and ample illustrations to present the maximum amount of information without seriously compromising the readability of the text.

The book opens with a double-page spread of the whole country, with accompanying facts and stats (flag, coat of arms, size, population, etc.). The adjacent page is a map illustrating the various geographic regions (Pacific Coast, Interior Plain, Boreal Forest, etc.) that make up this vast country.

The following double-page spread is divided horizontally with a capsulated history of Canada presented as a timeline running across the bottom half of each page. The top half of these pages highlights the nation’s transportation and communications achievements—both of great importance to such a vast country.

The remainder of the book treats each province and territory in a similar manner. Double-page spreads follow the model described above, but are specific to an individual province or territory. The upper portion of the timeline pages highlights the notable people, places, and events associated with each province or territory. For example, Terry Fox and Emily Carr make an appearance on the British Columbia pages while the Calgary Stampede and the massive Ukrainian Easter egg at Vegreville highlight the Alberta pages.

While there will no doubt be complaints about the choice of what was mentioned/left out of the entries, this book is a good overview of the highlights of Canadian history and culture. Recommended.