Wow Canada!: Exploring This Land From Coast To Coast

From British Columbia and Newfoundland to the Yukon and everywhere in between, this family is determined to see everything there is to see of kanata on their cross-country car trip - as long as it's not educational, exclaim the kids! Twelve-year-old Guy offers the kind of smart, wry and funny commentary kids adore, while never losing sight of how terrific an opportunity seeing the entire country really is. Wow Canada! by Vivien Bowers is replete with cool graphics, colourful illustrations and friendly spot illustrations explaining noteworthy landmarks in each province. Everything: history, folklore, culture and lots and lots of humour make this tour of Canada a wonderful way for children of all ages to learn. There's even a glossary explaining the origins of each province, from its name to its provincial tree. And yes, it's extremely educational - in the best sense of the word!

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.

Vivien Bowers'' first book for children, Crime Science: How Investigators Use Science to Track Down the Bad Guys (Owl 1997), won the prestigious Science in Society Children''s Book Award from the Science Writers'' Association, and was shortlisted for the Silver Birch Award. An award-winning magazine writer, her articles for adults and children have appeared in Canadian Geographic, Equinox, National Geographic and Ranger Rick. Vivien lives in Nelson, B.C.

Introducing ... the Trip!

Our whole family is going on a trip across Canada. When my parents told us, they said we had to do it now because in two years I'll be fourteen and "cool," and I won't want to go anywhere with my family.

"A trip across Canada? Will it be fun? Are you sure it's not going to be educational?" I've learned it pays to ask these things in my family. My mon used to be a teacher, and she can't always turn it off.

"Really fun," my parents answered together. Mom paused a moment. "And nothing remotely educational about it."

"This is a plot so Guy doesn't spend all summer inside playing computer games, isn't it?" said my younger sister, Rachel. She's ten and she thinks she knows everything.

"We hadn't even considered that," said Dad.

Yeah, right.

Rachel wants to know how far we'll be going. Dad tells here its about 6,000 km (3,730 miles) across Canada, not including trips to the northern territories on our way back.

"Hey, maybe I'll find some rocks for my rock collection," Rachel announced. She has about a million different collections.

"Very small rocks, I hope," said Dad. "What are you going to collect, Guy?"

"Wildlife."

"We're going to have more wildlife in the car? Won't there be enough in the back seat already?" Mom asked.

"I just want to see some wildlife. I'm brining my binoculars. I'd like to see at least one new animal in every province. Preferably charging at the car," I added.

"Then you won't need your binoculars after all," Rachel answered. "I'm bringing Bucko, my stuffed beaver. He's been wanting to see more of Canada, since he is our national animal."

I got a look at some of the other things she's put in her backpack for the trip. You wouldn't believe the weird things she's bringing. Do you really need to have your favourite collection of bottle caps on a car trip across Canada?

My parents gave us each a journal. Mom said, "You should bring your drawing material, Guy. There will be lots of opportunities for your great cartoons."

"You could draw a cartoon about Bucko Beaver's trip across Canada," Rachel suggested.

"Dumb idea, Rachel," I said. On the other hand...