June 1, 2017
K-Gr 3-Annie Magruder and her dog, Carson, travel by car from their home in British Columbia to cheer up Annie's ailing sister, Elsie, who lives "all the way across Canada," in Newfoundland. With their belongings piled high atop Annie's tiny "rattlebang car," they drive across many provinces to their destination, stopping to camp in the Rockies, view the "hoodoos" in Alberta's dinosaur country, marvel at the vast open sky in Saskatchewan, and swim in Lake Winnipeg. Annie and Carson continue past endless forests to the amazing spectacle of Niagara Falls and then to French-speaking Quebec, where they savor the city's famous pork pie. Finally, they arrive in Prince Edward Island, savor lobster rolls, and the next day drive onto the ferry that takes them to Elsie's home. There the sisters reunite, while Carson delights in a promised surprise of his own. Text and illustrations combine to insert humor into this cross-country adventure. Carson is a dog of many comical expressions and antics that require Annie's continued attempts to curb his enthusiasm. The large, colorful illustrations, many of them spreads as befits the vast land they depict, provide lovely views of Canada's varied landscapes. VERDICT Readers will enjoy the levity Carson brings to this journey from coast to coast as they learn about the diverse regions of the country through the illustrations and the map on the endpapers. A fine choice that may lead to further research for classrooms studying Canada.-Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2018
Dog Carson travels with his white-haired human, Annie, from Canada's west coast to visit Annie's sister in Newfoundland. With camping equipment strapped precariously to their "rattlebang" bug-car, the pair enjoys coast-to-coast provincial wonders. The lighthearted road-trip story's gouache illustrations highlight the dot-eyed companions' affection and the beauty of stops such as Lake Winnipeg and Quebec City. Map included on the endpapers.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)