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Discover Canada Province by Province
F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet
Do you know which Canadian province is the only officially bilingual one? Or what type of seaweed is actually sold and eaten as a snack food? The answers to these questions, along with many facts, traditions, and much history, can be found in F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet. Points of pride include the world's longest covered bridge (located in Hartland), Kouchibouguac National Park, and the weeklong Chocolate Festival of St. Stephen's Ganong Bros.' chocolate factory. A tastier G could never be found where candies and chocolate are sold by the pound. All sort of treats you are certain to see if you, by chance, visit Ganong factory. From the 'A' of Acadian culture to the 'Z' of zinc production, readers young and old will enjoy this scenic armchair journey that showcases the riches of New Brunswick.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 25, 2020
Yes indeed, I have like with many if not most of the Discover Canada Province by Province picture books I have read to date (and which only take the external form of an abecedarian in order to introduce provincial facts and trivia) much enjoyed author Marilyn Lohnes’ verses as poetry and for their lyricism of form in her F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet (one set of poetry for each letter of the alphabet and presenting New Brunswick facts and information from A to Z, from the Acadians to the zinc mines of Northern New Brunswick), with my main annoyance with the general set-up of this series, of Discover Canada Province by Province still being the in my opinion academically frustrating lack of a list of book suggestions for further reading and research on New Brunswick and the information Marilyn Lohnes’ has presented to us.
However, after having lived in New Brunswick during my undergraduate years and thus having always retained an active interest in the province (both recent and historical), there are at least in my humble opinion, more than a few informational shortcomings and gaps present in F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet for me to consider more than two stars as an average ranking. For yes, even though I have indeed much liked Susan Tooke’s bright and always lively and expressive accompanying artwork, her very much to my aesthetic tastes pictures, they still and nevertheless just do not in any manner really mitigate the narrational frustrations I have felt regarding author Marilyn Lohnes’ printed words (and indeed at what should be mentioned as important facts in F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet and has not been, has been either inadvertently or on purpose omitted or silenced).
And while I do not wish to list ALL of the potential issues with the contents or rather with some of the content I have found in F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet (as this would likely make my review too full of spoilers), I will indeed point out the two main and most heavy duty bones of contention I have had with Marilyn Lohnes’ and her featured text (or rather I should say with the thematics of certain parts of the latter). For most definitely, I am personally rather majorly aghast that Marilyn Lohnes is so one hundred percent supportive and laudatory of both industrialist K.C. Irving and the commercial fishery. Because since the Irving Family basically seems to own New Brunswick and yes, also does not in my humble opinion have a very good environmental protection track record, should this not be at the very least mentioned by Ms. Lohnes instead of just seeming to fete K.C. Irving and that he supposedly was such a “loyal” New Brunswicker, and not to mention that infuriatingly, Marilyn Lohnes’ in the letter section N on fishing nets neither points out that overfishing is a real issue in the Maritimes nor that rogue and deliberately abandoned in the ocean fishing nets often entangle especially whales with generally tragic results.
And therefore, while I do still think that F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet provides a decent enough introduction to all things New Brunswick (and yes, with definitely majorly wonderful illustrations), I can and will only recommend this book with major caveats that the author, that Marilyn Lohnes from where I stand obviously just seems to desire to introduce and feature that what she thinks is positive about her province and would rather ignore those issues that make New Brunswick not shine all that brightly and luminously.
However, after having lived in New Brunswick during my undergraduate years and thus having always retained an active interest in the province (both recent and historical), there are at least in my humble opinion, more than a few informational shortcomings and gaps present in F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet for me to consider more than two stars as an average ranking. For yes, even though I have indeed much liked Susan Tooke’s bright and always lively and expressive accompanying artwork, her very much to my aesthetic tastes pictures, they still and nevertheless just do not in any manner really mitigate the narrational frustrations I have felt regarding author Marilyn Lohnes’ printed words (and indeed at what should be mentioned as important facts in F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet and has not been, has been either inadvertently or on purpose omitted or silenced).
And while I do not wish to list ALL of the potential issues with the contents or rather with some of the content I have found in F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet (as this would likely make my review too full of spoilers), I will indeed point out the two main and most heavy duty bones of contention I have had with Marilyn Lohnes’ and her featured text (or rather I should say with the thematics of certain parts of the latter). For most definitely, I am personally rather majorly aghast that Marilyn Lohnes is so one hundred percent supportive and laudatory of both industrialist K.C. Irving and the commercial fishery. Because since the Irving Family basically seems to own New Brunswick and yes, also does not in my humble opinion have a very good environmental protection track record, should this not be at the very least mentioned by Ms. Lohnes instead of just seeming to fete K.C. Irving and that he supposedly was such a “loyal” New Brunswicker, and not to mention that infuriatingly, Marilyn Lohnes’ in the letter section N on fishing nets neither points out that overfishing is a real issue in the Maritimes nor that rogue and deliberately abandoned in the ocean fishing nets often entangle especially whales with generally tragic results.
And therefore, while I do still think that F is for Fiddlehead: A New Brunswick Alphabet provides a decent enough introduction to all things New Brunswick (and yes, with definitely majorly wonderful illustrations), I can and will only recommend this book with major caveats that the author, that Marilyn Lohnes from where I stand obviously just seems to desire to introduce and feature that what she thinks is positive about her province and would rather ignore those issues that make New Brunswick not shine all that brightly and luminously.
July 4, 2024
F is for Fiddlehead is a great book to learn a bit about New Brunswick. Each letter is assigned something that has to do with New Brunswick such as the title, but then there is a section that goes into detail about whatever is being highlighted. The synopsis gives lots of examples of items, places or events that are used in the book. I have been to New Brunswick and am a Canadian, but I learned a few things reading this book. If you are thinking of taking a trip to New Brunswick, then I suggest you take a look at this book and make a list of interesting things you might want to see of do while you are there.
May 17, 2014
I bought this as Proud New Brunswicker Content for my upcoming niece, and then I read it and just... what? I love the concept and the pictures are very nice. The verses are utterly tortured, and who exactly is the audience meant to be? The grammar, vocabulary, and syntax are incredibly convoluted and advanced well beyond the grasp of your average picture-book reader, and on top of this some rhymes still require a very specific (unnatural) diction in order to work. The lengthy side-bars add context to the verses, which is certainly educational, but again far beyond the comprehension of the (perceived) target audience.
It opens with:
"'A' is for Acadian, strong and true bred"
O_O
No but seriously, what the fuck is this.
"U's Universities, aged and wise--
from humble beginnings, they all came to rise.
In New Brunswick schools many fine firsts occurred,
for good was the deed, and proud was the word."
I have a Master's degree and I have no idea what this is trying to say.
It opens with:
"'A' is for Acadian, strong and true bred"
O_O
No but seriously, what the fuck is this.
"U's Universities, aged and wise--
from humble beginnings, they all came to rise.
In New Brunswick schools many fine firsts occurred,
for good was the deed, and proud was the word."
I have a Master's degree and I have no idea what this is trying to say.
July 9, 2011
A beautiful picture book that contains lots of extra information on landmarks and attractions in the province of New Brunswick. A great souvenir, or book to teach a child about what NB has to offer.
June 4, 2022
This is a wonderful introduction to New Brunswick, Canada, for people of all ages! It includes history, the environment, a quiz, and good illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews