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Canadian Flyer Adventures #1
Beware, Pirates
The old Canadian Flyer in the attic of Emily’s new house looks like just another old sled. But when eight-year-old Emily and nine-year-old Matt rub the sled’s maple leaf logo, they suddenly find themselves transported from the dusty old attic to Frobisher Bay. What's more, they're aboard Martin Frobisher’s ship The Aid and the year is 1577! Adventure beckons, and Emily and Matt are happy to follow. Until, that is, they meet up with honest-to-goodness pirates! This rollicking, fast-paced adventure, with black and white illustrations, brings Frobisher’s search for the Northwest Passage to life.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2007
3 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 30, 2023
Beware, Pirates is the first book in the Canadian Flyer series, which is reminiscent of a Canadian version of the Magic Treehouse books that are more familiar to U.S. readers. Emily Bing and her family move into a big old spooky house that her Aunt Miranda used to live in. On Emily's first day there, she makes a friend, her neighbor Matt Martinez. Together, they explore Aunt Miranda's belongings in the attic, and discover a magic sled that will take them to any time period in the past, and embark on an adventure on a 16th-century pirate ship.
The ship's captain and some of the other characters were actually historical figures, and an appendix in the back of the book explores more of the history of the time.
Written especially for children in grades one to three.
The ship's captain and some of the other characters were actually historical figures, and an appendix in the back of the book explores more of the history of the time.
Written especially for children in grades one to three.
August 22, 2025
Once upon a time there was a little girl and boy named Mat and Emily, who found a magic sled. Mat and Emily saw magic words on the sled which sed "rub the sled three times fast then you'll go into the past", then they flew to the time of pirates in the year 1577. The kids helped a friend to rescue someone.
What I liked about the book is that it is funny and surprising.
I recommend that other people read this series Canadian flyer because it can teach you a lot about the past.
What I liked about the book is that it is funny and surprising.
I recommend that other people read this series Canadian flyer because it can teach you a lot about the past.
October 14, 2010
My 6-year-old son was so excited when he discovered this Canadian Flyer Adventure series while looking through an Owl magazine. How did we miss this great series? (Book #15 was just published.) We are fans of the Magic Tree House series and I could see that the Canadian Flyer stories follow a similar idea of traveling back in time, but the latter stories are distinctly different. Each book is a small history lesson in the form of an action adventure tale.
Emily and Matt are transported back in time on an antique red sled (what an ingenious idea!) called—you guessed it—the Canadian Flyer, which takes them to a different part of Canada at a historic point in the past. In this first book, the adventure begins almost immediately as Emily and Matt meet for the first time. Emily has just moved into an old house that belonged to her great-aunt Miranda, and Matt lives just next door. They decide to go play up in the spooky tower situated at the top of Emily’s house.
The tower is filled with old things, treasures really, including a red sled that magically flies them back to 1577 and onto a pirate ship! But not just any pirate ship; this is the ship of Captain Martin Frobisher, an explorer and privateer in the service of Queen Elizabeth, who is on his second expedition to look for gold and to find out what happened to the five crewmen from the first expedition. The ship is in the Arctic waters near Nunavut, and Emily and Matt manage to get off the ship with the help of Minik, an Inuit boy who is trying to save his friend who is a prisoner on the ship. Soon the children are on a rescue mission and they must do it without getting caught or killed!
I just loved Wishinsky’s realistic description of the conditions on the ship. The men were rough, dirty and smelled of rotten fish, the food was mouldy, and rats lurked in the dark, below-deck quarters. She brought history to life at a time when Canada was being explored and the Inuit misunderstood. At the end of the book, additional information about the historical people and events is given in the fun format of Emily’s Top Ten Facts, Matt’s Top Ten Facts and the author’s own question and answers. These are fun to read and evoked funny expression from my kids.
Of course, now that we discovered this series we can’t wait to catch up and read all of them! The second book deals with dinosaurs, another favourite topic of my son. He keeps asking when we’re going to get the book, so I better get with it. Thumbs up for this great series that is simultaneously educational and entertaining!
Emily and Matt are transported back in time on an antique red sled (what an ingenious idea!) called—you guessed it—the Canadian Flyer, which takes them to a different part of Canada at a historic point in the past. In this first book, the adventure begins almost immediately as Emily and Matt meet for the first time. Emily has just moved into an old house that belonged to her great-aunt Miranda, and Matt lives just next door. They decide to go play up in the spooky tower situated at the top of Emily’s house.
The tower is filled with old things, treasures really, including a red sled that magically flies them back to 1577 and onto a pirate ship! But not just any pirate ship; this is the ship of Captain Martin Frobisher, an explorer and privateer in the service of Queen Elizabeth, who is on his second expedition to look for gold and to find out what happened to the five crewmen from the first expedition. The ship is in the Arctic waters near Nunavut, and Emily and Matt manage to get off the ship with the help of Minik, an Inuit boy who is trying to save his friend who is a prisoner on the ship. Soon the children are on a rescue mission and they must do it without getting caught or killed!
I just loved Wishinsky’s realistic description of the conditions on the ship. The men were rough, dirty and smelled of rotten fish, the food was mouldy, and rats lurked in the dark, below-deck quarters. She brought history to life at a time when Canada was being explored and the Inuit misunderstood. At the end of the book, additional information about the historical people and events is given in the fun format of Emily’s Top Ten Facts, Matt’s Top Ten Facts and the author’s own question and answers. These are fun to read and evoked funny expression from my kids.
Of course, now that we discovered this series we can’t wait to catch up and read all of them! The second book deals with dinosaurs, another favourite topic of my son. He keeps asking when we’re going to get the book, so I better get with it. Thumbs up for this great series that is simultaneously educational and entertaining!
November 29, 2013
Beware, Pirates is a children's novel featuring Emily and Matt. The friends find a Canadian Flyer sled in Emily's house along with other mysterious items. When they touch the sled, a secret message is revealed and when they read it, they are transported back in time to a pirate ship in Arctic Canada in 1577.
As a grade 2 teacher in Alberta, I was very excited to find this novel which includes information about Canadian history and the Arctic. It fit perfectly with my Social Studies unit. My students loved the book and the chapters were the perfect length to read one chapter a day. I love kids books that go back in time because it makes history come alive for students. The illustrations were great and the action and adventure kept the story moving at a good pace.
I was hoping for a little more detailed information about Northern Canada, but it whet my student's appetite and they are now excitedly researching more about Nunavut for their own class presentation.
As a grade 2 teacher in Alberta, I was very excited to find this novel which includes information about Canadian history and the Arctic. It fit perfectly with my Social Studies unit. My students loved the book and the chapters were the perfect length to read one chapter a day. I love kids books that go back in time because it makes history come alive for students. The illustrations were great and the action and adventure kept the story moving at a good pace.
I was hoping for a little more detailed information about Northern Canada, but it whet my student's appetite and they are now excitedly researching more about Nunavut for their own class presentation.
August 20, 2011
This first instalment of the Canadian Magic Tree House introduces our two protagonists Emily and Matt to us, as well as to each other. They also discover a magical red sled (the Red Flyer of the series title) in the tower room of Emilie's new house. It transports them to the deck of Martin Frobisher's ship The Aid in 1577.
As I mentioned, this series is the Canadian Magic Tree House. It is an early chapter book that is short enough (66 pages of story) and has simple enough language to appeal to the young reader. It also is an nice entry point for discussion on how the Europeans treated the Aboriginals. Cute book, almost too Canadian in its earnestness to be politically correct.
As I mentioned, this series is the Canadian Magic Tree House. It is an early chapter book that is short enough (66 pages of story) and has simple enough language to appeal to the young reader. It also is an nice entry point for discussion on how the Europeans treated the Aboriginals. Cute book, almost too Canadian in its earnestness to be politically correct.
December 30, 2012
This is a Canuck version of the Magic Treehouse....There is some good Canadian history and geography information in this book. My son really enjoyed it and has moved on to the second book in this series...
May 22, 2015
Canada historical fiction for kids Grade One and higher. Easy chapters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews