Canada Year by Year

Gr 3–7—This primer on Canadian history is informative and accessible. A significant event for each year is highlighted, starting with the country's founding in 1867 and ending with its upcoming 150th birthday celebrations in 2017. A wide range of subjects and topics are covered, including the first passenger train, Frederick Banting's Nobel Prize, and the first female prime minister. Dark chapters in Canadian history are also forthrightly acknowledged and discussed, such as the wrongs committed against Chinese railway workers and indigenous peoples. The layout and design are very appealing, with sidebars, trivia, and quotes sprinkled throughout. Smith's charming watercolor illustrations vividly capture the people, places, and events. This valuable collection is rounded out with 39 thumbnail biographies of "Great Canadians" in the fields of art, politics, peacekeeping, science, and sports.