25th Trillium Award

Read To Me: The Christmas Canoe, by Shelley Posen

 
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The Christmas Canoe by Shelley Posen

By Crystal Hopkins

Read To Me, a new series on Open Book, showcases those magical children?s books that kids will ask you to read multiple times, and that you?ll love reading. Today, we?re featuring The Christmas Canoe (General Store Publishing House) by Shelley Posen, with illustrations by Magdalene Carson.

ABOUT THE BOOK: The Christmas Canoe, written by Canadian folklorist and singer Shelley Posen uses rhyming verse, like the classic Quebec folktale, La Chasse-galérie. This story is about a lumber crew snowed in at a secluded cabin on Christmas Eve. They are visited by elves in a flying canoe. Told in a creative blend of English and French, The Christmas Canoe gives a twist to the traditional western tales about Christmas Eve.

WHY KIDS WILL LOVE IT: The rhyming verse and detailed illustrations take readers through a magical journey of Christmas on a snowy night. Children will enjoy the Canadian spin on the traditional stories about Santa delivering presents, as in The Christmas Canoe, the elves bring toys to girls and boys. A notes section at the end of the book provides a brief reference of terms related to the story?s origin and definitions for relevant French words and phrases.

WHY GROWN UPS WILL LOVE IT: Grown ups will love this French-Canadian folktale told using both of our country?s official languages. This different take on an old classic includes the traditions we all know and love: the Christmas Eve feast, singing carols, dancing, togetherness and gratefulness. Santa comes to those in need including these loggers trapped in a cabin during a winter storm. Grown ups are reminded that the magic of Christmas is not only for children; it is for anyone who believes in it.

Buy this book at your local independent bookstore or online at General Store Publishing House or at Amazon.


Crystal Hopkins is the Editorial Intern for Open Book: Toronto. She is an Honours graduate from the Public Relations Advanced Diploma program, Humber ITAL. She is a writer, editor and Chief Social Media, Member Communications at IABC/Toronto and has worked in the publishing industry with a focus on ebooks. When Crystal is not reading and recommending books, she can be found dancing, helping her community and creating storyboards with her children.

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