Frieda Wishinsky

illustrated by Leanne Franson

Friends Emily Bing and Matt Martinez have discovered that the Canadian Flyer, an antique red sled, and the other intriguing objects they found in the tower of Emily's new house, hold amazing powers. The magical sled has taken them all over the country and back through time. Along the way, they've come face to face with pirates, dinosaurs, prospectors, Vikings, grey whales, and even Alexander Graham Bell. They've spent a day in a pioneer schoolhouse, helped fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad, sailed the high seas, and scaled the snowy mountain peaks.

In these latest books in the Canadian Flyer Adventures series, resourceful Emily and inquisitive Matt find themselves on ever more trips to the past, this time to witness the monumental building of the railroad, to a fierce winter in New France, and to wartime Canada in the 1940s. Each "edge of your seat" tale takes Matt and Emily to a different part of the country and to a thrilling point in its rich history. Emily chronicles each trip by drawing in her sketchbook and Matt reports into his portable digital recorder.

With every excursion into the past, Matt and Emily, and readers along with them, learn about Canada in the most engaging way. Frieda Wishinsky's fast-paced text makes these early chapter books read like simply riveting stories, peopled with wonderful and relatable characters. Along the way, readers will pick up a myriad of fascinating historical tidbits woven into each story. A special section at the back of the book highlights additional facts. Emily and Matt each collect their best top ten facts connected to the adventure they've just been on, and author Frieda Wishinsky also shares her additional facts here, in a lively question and answer format.

This series, offering a fresh slant on Canadian history, is already a favourite for boys and girls alike, who can get swept up in each adventure and caught up in the series as it continues to grow. Teachers, librarians, parents, and reviewers applaud the accurate and fascinating historical richness of each tale, as well as the additional amazing facts included at the end of each title. Dean Griffiths' evocative and meticulously researched illustrations situate the reader perfectly in the place and time -- and action -- of each title.

Ages 6-9.