Book Description

Did you know that the first “snow car” was invented in the 1920s? That talented players are buried with their lacrosse sticks to this day, so they can play in the afterlife? That long before the modern game of ice hockey there was Oochamkunutk, played by the Mi’kmaq?

Shooting Hoops and Skating Loops tells the story of ten inventions that have changed the way we spend our leisure time. From peach baskets that became basketball hoops, to new spins on bowling and improvements to ice skates that help the skater all but fly, this book is a wonderful way to celebrate human ingenuity. ... Read more

Book Description

Between 1928 and 1971, Pier 21 was the gateway of Canada. As the landing port for immigrants, it greeted more than one million new Canadians. It also saw many Canadians leave, including 368,000 soldiers who sailed overseas during the Second World War.

This is the story of Pier 21 and the many people who passed through it, the war brides and their children, the returning warriors, and the refugees from war-torn Europe and beyond. It examines the importance of Canada’s “Ellis Island” and its role today as a historical center. ... Read more

Book Description

A fascinating cultural blend of immigrants, the Canadian people arefeatured from their work, families, and education to important political issues. ... Read more

Book Description

When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620, much of America remained a vast wilderness. Within sixty years of their arrival, America's first cities were thriving seaports, the first college was founded, public education had begun, books were printed, coins minted, and postal service launched. The New Americans tells the story of the origins of our rich multicultural heritage, an exciting chapter in Betsy and Giulio Maestro's acclaimed American Story series. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Great Maestro Text!
Maestro covers the period of Colonialization in an inclusive manner. I feel that she did an excellent job of including multiple perspectives of all people involved in the colonization period. Native Americans and their interaction with European settlers are highlighted on most every page of the book. The colorful pictures and maps help to guide the reader to a better understanding of the period. Like the other two Maestro text it is quite comprehensive. It could easily be used to replace the traditional textbook. But I find that since it is so comprehensive, I probably wouldn't use it with the Exploration & Conquest text because of the length of each.

Great Series!
I came across one book by Betsy Maestro "The Discovery of the Americas" and I loved it. The text is simple and the illustrations are great. It is historically accurate as well, a must in my checklist. I didn't realize she also wrote the historical series "You Wouldn't Want to..." They are my favorite!! I recommend all of her books, especially for teachers.

This is a great book to read for the 4th of July! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good for any Age
Although a YA book, this is a perfect book for anyone wanting to know about daily life in the south during the Civil War. It is part of a series called The Way People Live, which focuses on "cultural pockets" which share the distinction of having "been viewed before but not completely understood". The author believes that removing stereotypes, both positive or negative, is the only way to really understand any culture.

The emphasis in this Lucent series is on the personal aspects of life in the culture that is being examined and "seeing humans as victims, heroes, and onlookers". To do this, the book uses a large number and wide variety of primary quotations and illustrations.

Everyday Southern life is examined in this book, along with the effects of the Civil War on daily life. Plantation life is described and the roles of the men, the women, and the slaves on them are explained.

The author then brings his focus to the vast majority of those in the South during the Civil War -- the poor and the middle class. The men and boys of these classes comprised most of the Confederate Army, not the wealthy.

A good resource for those wishing to delve into the culture of the Civil War South. ... Read more

Book Description

Have you ever hidden something, and then forgotten where it was? Imagine if you buried a treasure, but couldn't find it when you went back to look. This has really happened!

Here is information about real treasure lost in all fifty states, and even some in Canada! Read and be amazed. You know what? This book could make you the richest person in the world.

AMAZING TRUE STORIES:

• Coins and bits of treasure wash up on Florida beaches more often than anywhere else in the United States.
• The Great Lakes are freshwater and are extremely cold. These water conditions help preserve sunken treasures better than warm saltwater oceans do.
• In the United States alone there is $300 billion' worth of lost treasure waiting to be found!

Reviews (1)

My grandkids love this book
I was glad to find this book because I haven't seen anything else like it. It's the kind of book that gets kids to read--even those who don't really like reading. I'm a retired school librarian and am giving this as a gift to my granddaughter along with an inexpensive metal detector. One of my grandsons had a treasure hunt birthday party and gave this book to each of the kids that came as a party favor, along with gold-wrapped chocolate coins, and a treasure map he drew and photocopied. It was a lot of fun! ... Read more

Book Description

From the first Stone Age "immigrants" to more recent arrivals, people have been coming to Canada for millennia by every means possible - foot, boat, car, train, and airplane. This lavishly illustrated and richly detailed look at the fascinating history of multiculturalism in Canada collects the compelling stories of these pioneers. In the spirited and always thorough text that her readers have come to expect, Susan Hughes tells Canada's special story by focusing on the country's major ethnic groups and waves of immigration. Interspersed throughout the chronologically arranged stories are "spotlight" spreads that explore special historical events, neighborhoods, and individuals. A wealth of compelling archival photographs, artwork, rare memorabilia, documents, posters, tickets, craftwork, recipes, tools, clothing, and toys show how diverse groups helped shape a people and a country. ... Read more

Book Description

A richly illustrated celebration of Canadian ingenuity.

What do the Ballard fuel cell, a wind-up Walkman, and a programmable hand have in common? How about Java, a conductive concrete and basketball? Give up? They were all invented by Canadians. Everyone knows that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone but you will be amazed to find out just how ingenious Canadians have been throughout history.

Inventions often evolve from trying to overcome a problem. What's the number one problem during the Canadian winter? From early Inuit inventions like sunglasses, igloos and snowshoes to Joseph-Armand Bombardier's Ski-Doo in 1959 and concrete that conducts electricity to melt snow on runways, Canadians have come up with extraordinary ways to deal with cold, ice and snow.

Canada is a huge country and moving people, information and cargo from place to place has always been a challenge. Canada Invents highlights the uniquely fascinating ways inventors have found to keep Canada working from coast to coast. In this well-rounded book readers will also discover how Canadian inventors have saved lives and improved technology around the world. This book is tribute to Canadian ingenuity!

A few highlights of the inventions, thematically arranged, are: - Snow and Ice: Inventions to Cope with Canada's Cold It's true, Canadians spend a lot of time shivering and shoveling. Canadian winters have prompted many clever Canadians inventors to deal with cold, ice and snow. - Ka-booom! Inventions of Energy and Power This section looks at some important, and some just plain intriguing, Canadian contributions to making and saving the important resource of energy. - "Hello? Is Anybody There?" Inventions that Communicate Over the last two hundred years, Canadians have played a huge part in inventing devices and processes that make it easier for people to communicate and connect -- and they continue to do so today. - On a Roll: Inventions on Wheels Canada is a vast country to travel across. Maybe that's why Canadians have made such inventive contributions to machines on wheels. Whether for practical purposes or simply to let us have fun (on skateboards or Ferris wheels, for instance) Canadians are on a roll with their wheel-related ideas. - Some Body: Inventions that meet Physical Challenges For years, inventors in Canada have been rising to the challenge of finding ways to help us cope with the challenges of physical injuries or other problems with our bodies. Whether it's dealing with a wound, a weak heart, or the loss of a limb, Canadian inventors have made a significant contribution.

Inventor Spotlights throughout the book tell the absorbing stories of the men and women behind the inventions, and tell us more about their diverse worlds and lives. The stories often show how the ability to face adversity is just as significant as the inventions themselves. A few examples are: - Joseph-Armand Bombardier Bombardier loved solving problems from a very young age. His best known invention is the Ski-Doo, which lead the founding of a world leading company. - Abraham Gesner Born in 1797, Gesner invented kerosene -- the magic key that unlocked the potential of petroleum and eventually the oil industry. - James Naismith Looking for a way to enliven a class of bored gym students, teacher James Naismith, using peach baskets and 13 rules, invented the game of basketball.

Susan Hughes has written a lively and comprehensive tour through some of Canada's most famous achievements (and also its hidden gems). Hundreds of colorful photographs will amaze you as you travel through thousands of years of technology, from historic to futuristic. Canada Invents is a triumphant volume of creativity, and an important addition to every family, classroom and library collection.

Canada Invents is part of Owl Books' Wow Canada! series. Richly varied yet intrinsically connected, each unique book in this collection celebrates a part of Canada's story. Together, the books in the Wow Canada! library weave a tale as diverse and exciting as the country itself. ... Read more

Book Description

When Emily Stowe was born in Ontario in 1831, every girl's life followed a set pattern. Regardless of her personality, intelligence, capabilities or creativity, her future was limited to housework and childcare. Emily Stowe was determined to change that pattern. Sydell Waxman, a writer, researcher and lecturer on women of the 1800s, tells of the events in the life of the young Emily Stowe which caused her to become, not only the first woman school principal and the first woman to practise medicine in Canada, but a pioneer in the fight for women's rights. With the help of original sketches and archival material, Changing the Pattern also creates a vivid picture of Canada in the late 1800s as it follows Emily's crusade to create new patterns for girls' lives. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Changing the Pattern: The Story of Emily Stowe
This wonderful children's book is truly written with the child in mind. Many short stories that create the whole. The side bars are an excellent touch for added information. Ms. Waxman takes you on the journey of one woman's path to change a woman's pattern and become Canada's first female doctor. This book combines history with an easy to read story. It is sure to teach young minds and widen their horizons. To think beyond the stereotype. To make your dreams come true. This book shall be shared with my grandchildren and I look forward to reading other books by Sydell Waxman. ... Read more

Book Description

The Eye on Canada series takes young readers on a journey through the 13 provinces and territories that shape that vast country. Each book focuses on a particular province or territory, describing the environment, history, industry, tourist attractions, arts, sports, and cultures that make that region unique. Statistics, brain teasers, and interesting trivia on the province or territory encourage young people to learn more about this fascinating country. The exciting diversity of Canada and its people is celebrated through engaging narratives, colorful photographs, descriptive maps, and fun facts. ... Read more

Book Description

The pageantry of the sleek black horses, their intricate dancelike steps, and the thrilling play of lances make the Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police an unforgettable experience. Rooted in the cavalry drills of the Great March West of 1874, the modern-day Musical Ride now represents the best in horsemanship.In this loving homage to the Ride, Maxwell Newhouse captures its spirit – from the riders to the equipment, the training, and the horses – in words and art.The story of the Ride and its spectacular horses is told through black and white drawings and wonderful full-color art that presents performances from the plains to the mountains and all over North America.This book is a perfect gift for anyone who loves horses, and a perfect introduction to a national treasure that represents Canada around the world. ... Read more