Have you ever wondered about the unique animals we live among in Canada? CANADA WILD: Animals Found Nowhere Else on Earth by Maria Birmingham is a fantastic way to read and learn about some of the 50,000 species that live in Canada. Coupled with wonderful artwork by Alex MacAskill, this book will impress the most inquisitive of us – regardless of age! Before I opened this slim book, only 56 pages, I was immediately drawn to the cover art. MacAskill captured a truly Canadian scene with water, trees, mountains and flowers, highlighting the animals contained within. This cover had me staring at it before turning into the contents, trying to discover the names of the creatures I would soon meet. While I enjoyed this challenge, my curiosity was piqued and I couldn’t wait to explore the interior of this book.
“I loved learning about all the animals with a particular interest in several I really hadn’t heard of, and I have lived in Canada all my life!”
The author of CANADA WILD, Maria Birmingham, introduces the reader to an amazing collection of animals, separated by province and stretched out across this glorious land we all call home. We learn from the introduction that “some of these animals are also found in other places around the planet. But there are those that only live here … Most of these animals live in a particular region within Canada. And many of them are threatened or endangered.”
With each of the twelve animals in the book, there is a showcase announcing what we are looking at, with a name and artwork specific to that animal. This book covers a lot of material and it is very organized. It is laid out in a reader-friendly manner, ensuring that we know exactly what we are reading. No jumble, no confusion. Thanks to the savvy folks at Nimbus Publishing, the setup of the book is easy to follow, and clearly presented, and the creatures are exciting to discover. With each animal, starting with the Whooping Crane, we read about habitat, diet, status (endangered, rare, threatened, stable), some interesting facts, and then finish off with ‘How’s it Doing?’. This helps us get a feel for not only each of the animals but what they may need to help them.
In the book’s conclusion, ‘What Can We Do?’, the animals are further discussed. Here we receive tips on how to become actively involved in animal well-being, wherever you may live. I loved learning about all the animals with a particular interest in several I really hadn’t heard of, and I have lived in Canada all my life!
From the back cover: “…the Sable Island sweat bee, which lives on a single sandbar 300 kilometres off the coast of Nova Scotia; the Kermode bear, the rare white black bear also known as the ‘Spirit Bear,’ which calls the coastal rainforests of northwestern British Columbia home; and the Peary caribou, which can be found clomping through the Arctic tundra of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.”
Whether you are new to Canada or a life-long resident, young or young at heart, I guarantee you will be intrigued with CANADA WILD: Animals Found Nowhere Else on Earth by Maria Birmingham with artwork by Alex MacAskill. It will feed your inquisitive mind and spur you on to make important discoveries about animals, in your own backyard and across this vast land, from coast to coast to coast. It also offers an awareness of the beautiful land we live in, and those we live among who can’t speak for themselves, but are dependent on us humans to make the right choices on their behalf. This wonderful book will have you returning to it time and again for information and guidance on animals and their care. A great addition to your home or school library, CANADA WILD will assist you in becoming an animal ambassador for Canada’s wild creatures.
Maria Birmingham has worked in the children’s publishing industry for over 25 years. She is the award-winning author of several books for young people, including Snooze-O-Rama: The Strange Ways that Animals Sleep and A Beginner’s Guide to Immorality. She lives in Brampton, Ontario, with her family.
Alex MacAskill is a Halifax-based designer and illustrator, often working under the moniker of his studio, Midnight Oil Print & Design House. Alex works on a broad scope of projects from editorial illustration, to developing brand identities, to creating gig posters. His work is inspired by process, textures, the history of illustration and print, and all things organic, which is often why his work is screen-printed or letterpress printed by hand. Alex has always had a strong love for animals and the environment, and you often can find him with a pair of binoculars, birdwatching with his wife and two cats. midnight-oil.ca.
- Publisher : Nimbus Publishing Limited (Oct. 14 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 56 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1774711133
- ISBN-13 : 978-1774711132
TMR’s Managing Editor Carrie Stanton has a BA in Political Science from the University of Calgary. She is the author of The Jewel and Beast Bot, and picture books, Emmie and the Fierce Dragon and The Gardener. Carrie loves to write stories that grow wings and transport readers everywhere. She reads and enjoys stories from every genre.
- Carrie Stantonhttps://miramichireader.ca/author/carrie-stanton/
- Carrie Stantonhttps://miramichireader.ca/author/carrie-stanton/
- Carrie Stantonhttps://miramichireader.ca/author/carrie-stanton/
- Carrie Stantonhttps://miramichireader.ca/author/carrie-stanton/
- Carrie Stantonhttps://miramichireader.ca/author/carrie-stanton/
- Carrie Stantonhttps://miramichireader.ca/author/carrie-stanton/
