At Vimy Ridge by
Discusses Canada's victory at Vimy Ridge during World War I.
Canadian Boys Who Rocked the World by
30 lives that achieved greatness before age 20. No one ever said you had to be a grown-up to do something great. The boys in Canadian Boys Who Rocked the World have proved this to the world. Breaking world records, winning hearts in the limelight, changing the face of the scientific world - these boys have shaken the planet with their achievements. At 17, Louis Cyr bested the reigning Canadian strongman by lifting a 180 kg granite boulder. Wayne Gretzky was breaking NHL records by the time he was 18. Oscar Peterson won his first radio contest for piano at 14 and was awarded his own 15-minute weekly radio show. Every day, Canadian boys find new ways to rock the world. This fascinating book profiles young men who are born to greatness as well as young boys who aspire to it.
Dangerous Crossings! by
Ten daring treks across land, sea and air. What makes people attempt a dangerous journey? For some, it's a thirst for adventure. For others, it's a quest for freedom. And for still others, it's simply a desire to go home. In 1931, three Australian girls escaped from a government settlement for mixed-race children. Together they walked a thousand miles, including a trek across the merciless Gibson Desert, to return to their aboriginal home. In 1849, slave Henry Brown hatched a plan to reach freedom in the north. With the help of friends, he shipped himself in a crate from Richmond to Philadelphia, a 27-hour journey. Famous British explorer Dr. David Livingstone spent more than 30 years in Africa. When he died in 1873, his loyal guides carried his salted, dried body across more than 1,500 miles of treacherous African terrain, so he could be shipped to Britain for burial. Journey into Dangerous Crossings! and join voyagers from the determined to the desperate as they struggle though icy oceans, across hostile borders, and into unforgiving wilderness. You'll witness record-breaking solo flights, harrowing escapes from oppression, and unbelievable ocean crossings. The latest in the award-winning True Stories from the Edge series, these 10 amazing stories make Dangerous Crossings! an unforgettable trip.
Desperate Glory by
This book presents the story and issues of the First World War in a clear, concise and objective manner, accompanied on every page by photographs, original sketches or maps. Focussing on social as well as political issues with a Canadian perspective, Wilson presents the issues of the war with depth and compassion. This book will be a very useful tool for educators in explaining the hows and whys of this most important period.
Fire on the Water by
How did the son of Irish immigrants outrow blueblood scullers from Oxford and Cambridge to become one of the most famous athletes of his time? Award-winning author Wendy A. Lewis recounts the compelling story of the "Boy in Blue," from his childhood on the Toronto Islands, where he rowed himself to school on the mainland every day, to laurels won around the world. [Fry Reading Level - 3.8
Healing Our World by
When children are caught in civil wars, when earthquakes destroy homes and villages, when AIDS and other diseases shatter families and communities - the volunteers of Doctors Without Borders are there. Their mission is simple - to bring life-saving care to the world's neediest people and to speak out when the rights of the people in their care are abused or violated. M�decins Sans Fronti�res, known in English as Doctors Without Borders and by its volunteers as MSF, is the world�s largest independent medical humanitarian relief organization. Every year, more than 3,000 MSF volunteers and 12,000 local men and women bring medical aid to people in more than 70 countries. In Healing Our World, David Morley presents his own story and the stories of other MSFers who have volunteered in some of the most dangerous and forgotten corners of the world - the Congo, El Salvador, Chechnya, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Afghanistan, southern Africa. These are stories about healing and helping people, about making the world a better place - stories filled with sorrow and hope, anger and idealism, determination and passion. The words and experiences - good and bad - of MSF volunteers who come from all over the world and every walk of life. Information about MSF's history, how it selects its volunteers and decides where to send them. Includes photographs from the field. Excerpt: "When I tell friends at home in Canada abut the things I have seen, they often say, 'It must be so depressing!' But my work has never felt depressing. Doctors Without Borders is an organization built to act, to make things better. Together with other volunteers and the support of millions of people around the world, we don�t have to sit by helplessly and see a disaster unfold before us, wondering what on earth we can do. The gift of action is ours."
Island of Hope and Sorrow by
From 1832 to 1937 more than four million people sailed across the Atlantic to the port of Quebec with the dream of creating better lives for themselves in the New World. During this period, a tiny island called Grosse Ile, located fifty kilometers downstream from the port, served as a quarantine station. Its mission was to prevent ship passengers from spreading diseases to the mainland. This is the story of the island, which served both as gateway and graveyard for the thousands of people who landed on its shores, and of the caring island workers who welcomed them. From the Canadian Immigration series.
The Kids Book of Canada at War by
War is a time of terrible tragedy and great loss. But it is also a time of incredible courage and determination. In this entry in the acclaimed Kids Book of series, Elizabeth MacLeod looks at Canada's battles and wars and at the people who fought in them. From the earliest recorded battles on Canadian soil to Canada's overseas peacekeeping missions today, kids will meet heroic Canadians, learn about the technology of war and read chilling first-person accounts from soldiers on the battlefields. Scattered throughout are guides to museums and historic sites to visit. Visually rich, with illustrations, maps and archival photographs, The Kids Book of Canada at War is a comprehensive summary of an important part of Canadian history.
Royal Murder by
What would you do for absolute power? For many monarchs throughout history, it was a question that ruled their lives. Step into the world of palatial intrigue, where holding the throne means evading death . . . or causing it. Some sovereigns were cunning at avoiding their killers. Cleopatra of Egypt once rolled herself into a rug and was carried out past her enemies' noses. Other royals were brutal when dealing with foes. Vlad the Impaler's monstrous methods inspired the legend of Dracula the vampire. From monarchs murdered at the hands of their subjects to kings killed on the battle field, the stories of ten royals are told: * Cleopatra of Egypt (69 BCE - 30 BCE) * Vlad III the Impaler of Wallachia (1431 - 1476) * Richard III of England (1452 - 1485) * "Bloody Mary" I (1516 - 1558) * Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 1587) * Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) * Louis XVI (1754 - 1793) * Marie Antoinette (1755 - 1793) * Elisabeth of Austria (1837 - 1898) * The Romanovs of Russia (1872 - 1918) A final section offers examples from the 20th century, from assassination attempts in England to a royal massacre in Nepal. Blending dramatic storytelling and historical fact, and complete with fascinating photographs and artwork, Royal Murder is a compelling account of scheming sovereigns.
SOS: Stories of Survival by
Everyone's life is touched at some time by disaster. But some disasters loom so large they are international events. The stories of those who live through such devastating events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, and floods are both heartbreaking and compelling. Often they are inspiring and uplifting. SOS- Stories of Survival tells the tales of young survivors of such disasters - teenage coal miners trapped deep below the surface of the earth in Springhill, Nova Scotia; children who ran to escape the poisonous exploding gases spewing from Mont Pelee on Martinique; teens who rode the roofs of their homes in Pennsylvania's roaring Johnstown Flood; and youngsters who survived, but still suffer from, the nuclear accident in Chernobyl. Archival photos document these astounding sagas.
Royal Murder by
What would you do for absolute power? For many monarchs throughout history, it was a question that ruled their lives. Step into the world of palatial intrigue, where holding the throne means evading death . . . or causing it. Some sovereigns were cunning at avoiding their killers. Cleopatra of Egypt once rolled herself into a rug and was carried out past her enemies' noses. Other royals were brutal when dealing with foes. Vlad the Impaler's monstrous methods inspired the legend of Dracula the vampire. From monarchs murdered at the hands of their subjects to kings killed on the battle field, the stories of ten royals are told: * Cleopatra of Egypt (69 BCE - 30 BCE) * Vlad III the Impaler of Wallachia (1431 - 1476) * Richard III of England (1452 - 1485) * "Bloody Mary" I (1516 - 1558) * Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 1587) * Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) * Louis XVI (1754 - 1793) * Marie Antoinette (1755 - 1793) * Elisabeth of Austria (1837 - 1898) * The Romanovs of Russia (1872 - 1918) A final section offers examples from the 20th century, from assassination attempts in England to a royal massacre in Nepal. Blending dramatic storytelling and historical fact, and complete with fascinating photographs and artwork, Royal Murder is a compelling account of scheming sovereigns.