The circle of silver was fastened out an old ancient spoon found in the MacNeil's garden. This book takes place in England and Canada. John MacNeil goes to Canada to draw maps for King George. This book is adventurous, excting, and fun. I recommend it to an adventurer who wants to go into the wilderness of Canada and explore.

When a ship from England becomes trapped in the ice in theFarNorth and forced to stay through a long and dark winter, young David is the only person to leave the ship to follow the barking of foxes. Following the foxes into a glittering darkness, David loses his way and is in danger of dying of the cold. A wise man suddenly appears at the top of the hill, offers David safety, the warmth of fire, and the mystery of secrets and dreams. When David's father finds his lost son, David is asleep by the fire, sheltered by an Inukshuk (a stack of stones in the rough outline shape of a man). Dreamstones is a captivating picturebook story by Maxine Trottier written for young readers ages 4 to 8, and that is wonderfully illustrated by the museum quality artwork of Stella East.

A great resource for scout leaders, camp counselors, art teachers, or homeschoolers. The crafts encompass a variety of skill levels, many that can be done independtly.

A SAFE PLACE is a highly sensitive and thoughtful book about Emily and her mother as they escape to a shelter for abused women and children. In a story that is appropriately understated and gently told, Maxine Trottier acknowledges Emily's complicated feelings of guilt, displacement, and concern for her father. Yet she weaves Emily's fear and sadness with the delicious relief of living in a place where there is no danger or anger, a place where her mother can relax and smile. Friedman's pencil drawings capture the range of emotions experienced by all of the residents of the safe house. A comforting and reassuring book.

In the winter of 1884 young James is traveling by wagon with his parents across the snow covered prairies. During a storm at night James falls out of his family's wagon and falls behind. Faced with the possibility of freezing to death on the open plan, James is rescued by a man named Louis who takes him back to a cabin. Louis is Metis (a person of French and Native Canadian heritage) and tells a sad tale about a boy who loses his family and people. When the storm finally ends, Louis takes James to the edge of a town but refuses to enter it -- and with good reason. Enthusiastically recommended for young readers 4 through 8, Maxine Trottier's compelling and original story is impressively illustrated with John Mantha's strikingly memorable artwork. There is even a recipe for how to make a frontier bread called "bannock".