Hey Canada!

Gr 3–4—Nine-year-old Alice is traveling across Canada with her grandma and eight-year-old cousin, Cal, and his pet hamster. Observations about capital cities and tourist attractions are captured in Alice's blog, Cal's tweets, and their grandmother's poetry. Each chapter contains interesting facts about a province or territory. Information about cities, official birds, and plants is also included. Readers unfamiliar with the country will learn how to pronounce words such as "ceilidh," "L'anse aux Meadows," and Kouchibouguac." Full-page comic strips interspersed throughout and the hamster updates keep the tone of the narration light. Color photographs, cartoon illustrations, and interactive sidebars entitled "Find It" add visual appeal. Bowers gives readers an honest, attractive, and interesting glimpse into this nation's geography and culture by highlighting the unique aspects of each province and territory.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada