Canadian History books : recommendations?

[tammyw]

I am from Canada (until I met my husband at 27 and now live in the US). My kids and I are travelling on vacation to Canada to see family and it occurred to me I should get Canadian history books when I am there (since they aren't easy to come by here). I was actually thinking it would be most cost effective to order them from Amazon.ca and have them shipped to my dad's house and then I can take them home.

I remember someone recommended The Story of Canada, Christopher Moore so I was thinking about that one, but would love to hear other recs. My kids are 7.5 and 4 and I would love books that will be used many times and provide a good "library" for us for at least a year or two until we go back

Thanks so much!

[moominmamma]

One book we love which isn't easy to get in the US is "The Spirit of Canada" by Barbara Hehner. Try www.chapters.indigo.com for that Almost anything else is just about as easy (and inexpensive) to order from Amazon.com for US delivery as it is to order from Amazon.ca for Canadian delivery.

Barbara Greenwood has some neat fiction/non-fiction illustrated books about the Klondike gold rush, pioneer life and the underground railroad that were enjoyed by my kids around ages 5-8.

Miranda

[Callimom]

Originally Posted by tammyw

I am from Canada (until I met my husband at 27 and now live in the US). My kids and I are travelling on vacation to Canada to see family and it occurred to me I should get Canadian history books when I am there (since they aren't easy to come by here). I was actually thinking it would be most cost effective to order them from Amazon.ca and have them shipped to my dad's house and then I can take them home.

I remember someone recommended The Story of Canada, Christopher Moore so I was thinking about that one, but would love to hear other recs. My kids are 7.5 and 4 and I would love books that will be used many times and provide a good "library" for us for at least a year or two until we go back

Thanks so much!

Are you looking for historical fiction or non fiction?
Any particular time periods? or interests?

There is a series similar in nature to the Magic Treehouse but Canadian in content. They are early reader types, which might appeal, but they certainly aren't great literature by any stretch. My younger kids liked them.
You can read more about them here

There is also the Dear Canada series of historical fiction for older kids.

Both these should be available at amazon.ca

For non fiction The Story of Canada by Janet Lunn is excellent. Christopher Moore wrote The Big Book of Canada which is a mix of geography, history and culture.

The Spirit of Canada by Barbara Hehner has poems, songs, stories etc from various times and locations across Canada.

The Livesy Series is okay (you can often find these used). They have some non-fiction, some crafts/activities etc. Think of a scaled down version of STOW, but in multiple books.

For historical fiction picture books check out Maxine Trottier.

For older kids The People's History of Canada (dvds) is excellent.

There is a supplemental reading list for Canadian history here

And you can't go wrong with any of Becky's recommendations here

If there is a more specific topic you want, let me know.


Good luck.

[tammyw]

Thanks for the recommendations so far!

I am really looking for non-fiction - or fiction that is based on real events where they actually learn facts, etc.

These really would be more for my daughter (7.5).

No particular time periods or interests - I just want to make sure she gets a good education on Canadian history