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Canadian

Review: And Tomorrow the Stars: The Story of John Cabot by Kay Hill

Young Giovanni Caboto of Genoa cared for nothing but boats, but he was sent off to Venice to live with his uncle, a wealthy spice merchant.   There, together with his new friend Michiele, he studied at the monastery and was especially fascinated by geography and exploration.   When he got into trouble he was thrilled with […]

Why I Aim to be a Zero in Our Homeschool

Every once in a while I read something that sticks with me for a long time.  One of these concepts is “Aim to be a zero” from An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield, and it really illuminates many tasks.  I have thought about this concept so much that I no longer […]

Review: The Story of Canada by Janet Lunn and Christopher Moore

Although relatively short and peaceful, Canada’s history is both fascinating and significant.  Our family owns all kinds of Canadian history books, but for a readable overview that appeals to all ages we prefer The Story of Canada by Janet Lunn and Christopher Moore. This large, colorful book is full of detailed illustrations and interesting stories […]

Happy Birthday, Emily Carr

One of my favorite Canadian artists, Emily Carr, would have been 142 today, and there are some celebrations: The Vancouver Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition of 40 of her exhilarating forest paintings this winter.  I won’t be able to see it, but maybe some of you will.  Instead, I can take a virtual field trip […]

Review: Canal Boy by Marion Greene

Waiting in Colonel By’s office, sixteen year old Sean O’Dare was mesmerized by the wondrously-carved matched pistols in a box on the desk.  Colonel By took a long time to arrive, held up on Rideau Canal business most likely, for he was in charge of the huge project of building a canal from Bytown (now […]