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Noteworthy Books with Canadian Historical ThemesFrench Titles
Cover reproduced by permission of Coïncidence Jeunesse.
In a Quebec suspended between the French regime and the rule of the English conquerors, Louise Couillart comes upon a Black slave badly beaten by his master and decides to help the young victim. This proves to be more difficult than Louise would have liked to believe, and causes the Couillart family and their friends to help defeat the petty slave owner, who is also a traitor and enemy of Champlain. An explanatory author's note indicates that these people actually lived in Quebec; the few fictitious details only add to this very interesting novel.
Cover reproduced by permission of Éditions du remue-ménage.
Against a backdrop of strikes throughout Quebec in 1946, 13-year-old Lucie, whose father has recently died, is forced to work in a factory where the union is striving to combat injustices of all sorts, in order to help the workers to regain their self-respect. Readers will appreciate Marsha Hewitt's and Claire Mackay's superb portrayal of a fight against the oppression and deception practised by the bosses and the Church. This moving tale is completed with a historical note about the social context in which this drama took place.
Cover reproduced by permission of Les Éditions
Scholastic.
Marc Tétro creates strong images by his use of solid lines and bold, lively colours in the depiction of different aspects of the Canadian panorama from early times to the present. His naive and spellbinding illustrations cleverly reflect and expand upon the very simple text, which traces the history of both Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He ensures an immediate recognition of the police officers by attiring them, throughout history, in bright red stylized tunics which will be familiar to today's youngsters. Adults and young children alike will enjoy this remarkable work.
Cover reproduced by permission of Les Éditions
Héritage inc.
Cécile Gagnon warns her readers: this is a true story. When the telegraph lines are cut in 1910, the residents of Havre-Aubert in the Magdalen Islands are plunged into deepest isolation, unable to communicate with the mainland. How will they manage? François, whose mother is in the hospital, has an idea which may be useful... The text is complemented with black-and-white illustrations.
Cover reproduced by permission of Livres Toundra.
Bonnie Shemie presents a superb overview of Amerindian dwellings in the Far North, using simple, clear, complete illustrations as well as maps at the beginning and end of the book showing where the various house types are located. Enlightened commentaries describe a range of winter and summer homes in detail while emphasizing the importance of diversity in this "primitive" architecture, which reflects exceptional adaptation to a pitiless environment. Text and drawings are clear and richly informative; they will stimulate the interest of school-age readers who wish to familiarize themselves with a way of life that has now disappeared. |
