Canadian Greats. (Scholastic Canada Biographies). Maxine Trottier. Illustrated by Mark Thurman. Markham, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2003. 46 pp., pbk., $5.99. ISBN 0-7791-1403-5. Subject Heading: Canada-Biography-Juvenile literature. Grades 1-4 / Ages 6-9. Review by Linda Ludke. *** /4
	Canadian Pioneers. (Scholastic Canada Biographies). Maxine Trottier. Illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel. Markham, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2003. 46 pp., pbk., $5.99. ISBN 0-7791-1405-1. Subject Headings: Pioneers-Canada-Biography-Juvenile literature. Frontier and pioneer life-Canada-Juvenile literature. Grades 1-4 / Ages 6-9. Review by Linda Ludke. *** /4

excerpts:

On a July day in 1915, Billy Bishop watched a biplane touch down briefly in an English field so that the pilot could get his bearings. That day was to change his life forever. (From “Billy Bishop: The Lone Hawk.”)

 

Long ago in faraway France, a man named Louis had a garden near the Seine River. There were many other gardens coming to life that spring of 1617, but Louis Hebert's was special. Like his father before him, Louis was an apothecary a man who made medicines. His Paris garden was filled with pennyroyal and lavender, chamomile and thyme, and many other herbs and plants that he used to create his medicines.

Louis had always been interested in growing things. Little did he know that one day his interest would take him on a grand adventure to New France. (From “Louis Hebert: The First Habitant.”)

Canadian Greats.

Canadian Pioneers.

The "Scholastic Canada Biographies" series offers short, easy to read chapters that are geared to younger readers. In Canadian Greats, the achievements of Laura Secord ("Woman of Courage"), Billy Bishop ("Lone Hawk"), Nellie McClung ("The Change Maker"), Frederick Banting ("A Hero of Science") and Wayne Gretsky ("The Great One") are featured. In "Canadian Pioneers", such historical figures as Louis Hebert ("The First Habitant"), Marie Anne Gaboury ("A Voyageur's Wife"), John Crysler ("A Loyalist Settler"), Susanna Moodie ("A Gentlewoman in Upper Canada") and Wasyl Eleniak ("A Prairie Homesteader") are included.

     The brief biographies are written in an engaging manner and include information about the person's early life. Readers might be surprised to learn that Dr. Frederick Banting wasn't paid while conducting his medical research and had to sell his car and borrow money from his family, or that Laura Secord helped raise 11 siblings after her mother and stepmother died. Award winning author, Maxine Trottier has included a lot of historical detail in each well crafted life story.

     Coloured illustrations complement the text and help create a sense of the different time periods. In Canadian Greats, photographs are included of Billy Bishop's Victoria Cross, Wayne Gretsky's first pair of hockey skates, and an advertisement of a public speech by Nellie McClung. A map of Canada with key settlements is found in Canada Pioneers, along with engravings, and an 1890's poster promoting Western immigration.

     The large print text and short narrative chapters are well suited to children just starting to read on their own. There is no index or table of contents.

     These high interest stories are great for introducing Canadian figures and are a good purchase for elementary schools and public libraries.

Recommended.

Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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