Deborah Hodge,
The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration
Kids Can Press, 2006

Rating: E*

"Our country is ... home to over 32 million people from a wide range of backgrounds and origins. ... People of more than 200 cultures live and work here in harmony". (p. 5)

The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration gives an overview of how and when all these different cultural groups came to Canada. Arranged in chronological order, chapters deal with topics such as Canada’s First Peoples, Explorers and Settlers, Loyalists, The Underground Railroad, Early Asian Settlers, British Home Children, Guest Children, War Brides, Jewish War Orphans, Displaced Persons and Refugees and various other designations. One chapter describes a young girl’s immigration and the process of becoming a Canadian citizen, while the final chapter gives some quotes from immigrant children who atten a school near Vancouver. While the book covers most of the groups which have settled in Canada it states "People from so many cultures (more than 200) live in Canada that we simply don’t have the space to include them all in this book. We recognize the contributions of people from every race, faith and origin to our diverse and vibrant nation." (p. 5)

Each chapter consists of a 2 or 4 page spread with a balanced mixture of text and illustration. Coloured text boxes give additional information such as the number of people in particular ethnic groups living in Canada today and information about selected people of different ethnic backgrounds. Maps, historical photographs and documents are included as well as a table of Contents, Glossary and index. John Mantha’s realistic paintings greatly enhance the text and accurately depict the different eras.

This book provides an excellent introduction to the multicultural nature of Canada. It traces the history of Canada’s immigration and explains why so many people chose to move to Canada and make it their home. It will be a great supplement to Canadian social studies programs at the elementary and junior high school levels.

Thematic Links: Canada - Immigration; Canada - Multiculturalism; Canada - History

Victoria Pennell
Vol. 12, number 3
February 2007

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.