Wow Canada!: Exploring This Land from Coast to Coast to Coast

by Vivien Bowers

What could be more fun than a cross-country car trip with your parents and your younger sister? Twelve-year-old Guy can think of lots of things, but even he's won over with this adventure. His family's surprise-filled travels take them from one end of Canada to the other, even up to Nunavut, the newest territory. Curious but cool, Guy is the perfect narrator on this national odyssey. Honest, and often downright hilarious, his wry backseat observations, as well as those of his younger sister, Rachel, will be a hit with young readers. Their engaging tales will make this one car trip that anyone would want to take!

This rollicking, informative and absorbing discovery of Canada's many splendors is a refreshing celebration of the country. Author Vivien Bowers has a keen sense of what appeals to young readers, and she turns up new information that captures the spirit of the many regions that make up Canada.

Guaranteed to delight and inform, Wow Canada! is filled with: amazing Canadian facts Canada's historical wonders wacky postcards from Canada's odd corners cartoon adventures of Bucko Beaver photos and illustrations of Canada's most famous sights...and some hidden gems!

The 3-D scrapbook-style design, bright artwork and stunning photographs complement the fast pace and refreshing style of this bountiful book. Humorous sidebars appear throughout, such as "Food I Was Introduced to for My Own Good" and "Exceedingly Weird bits of Canadian Trivia." "According to Mom" explains the natural history of Canada, while Dad's scientific knowledge is imparted in "According to Dad." Each chapter concludes with a list of even more "Places to Go" and "Things We'll Do Next Time," and provides readers with the best provincial Websites on the Net. Gorgeous, panoramic artscapes by Dan Hobbs open each chapter as the intrepid family makes their way across each province and territory.

Genres: Canada, Geography, Childrens, Travel, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Vivien Bowers was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1951, the second of four children. She received a B.A. in English (honours) from the University of British Columbia followed by a teaching certificate, and was a grade 5 teacher for several years in Nelson, BC. Vivien has been a freelance writer for more than twenty-five years, writing elementary and secondary school materials, as well as non-fiction books and magazine articles for both adults and children. She has been invited to do presentations on her children's books in hundreds of schools and libraries across the country. Bowers has two sons, now grown up, and lives at the base of the mountains outside of Nelson, BC. She loves to escape into the wilderness to ski, hike or canoe.

Reviews

[Mesembryanthemum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book to read on a four-day train trip from Toronto to Vancouver. It was a great travel book! I'm an adult, so not the primary audience, but I was charmed and educated. If I were Canadian, I'd probably know most of this information, but I'm from the US, so I didn't. And I think even some Canadian grown-ups might learn a fact or two. In fact, this book was a hit with my Canadian travelling companions.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book about amazing, diversified, beautiful Canada. Loads of great information and little known facts, plus backmatter that includes extra facts, about each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories in a chapter for each province and territory. Although there could be much more information about the maritime provinces, the book is well laid out with humour added in.

[Yong Lai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful and interesting reading on the land of Canada through a child's view of his family's trip across the country.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and interesting

[Remy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like the graphics, maps, and layout of this book. It kind of looks like a scrapbook of photos, illustrations, etc. with various "real" objects like stamps, tickets, and touristy stuff sprinkled around. However, the contrived story of a family traveling through Canada is (imo) poorly written with intended humor that fell totally flat (for me). The narrator of the story (who is supposed to be a 12-year old) doesn't come across as a genuine voice (sounds like an adult trying to *unsuccessfully* sound like a kid). Almost everything feels very artificial and corny.

Having said that, a young child might enjoy this book, and it's chock full of various facts about the land, different sites to see, food, culture, and more. If the presentation of the book had been different (more facts, less/no contrived story), I would have really liked it.

[Chrissy]

This is an amazing book for parents who wish to get kids excited about Canadian Travel.