(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old garment worker Emily endures long hours and harsh conditions to help support her family in the early 1900s. The book's structure, alternating chapters of Emily's fictional tale with a more straightforward history of child labor, may entice some readers, but nonfiction fans will think the story element is unnecessary. Most of the accompanying photographs are by Lewis Hine. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Heather Collins & Heather Collins. Sarah and her pioneer family prepare for their Christmas celebration by making simple pomanders, preparing a special pudding, practicing carols, and decorating their cabin with evergreen boughs. Illustrated with sketchy but expressive black-and-white drawings and accompanied by blocks of factual information, recipes, and craft projects, the book gives modern readers a glimpse at Christmas past. Ind.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Heather Collins. As the Robertson family prepares for Thanksgiving, Lizzie almost drowns in the cranberry bog and Willy gets lost while harvesting nuts, but all ends well. Facts about the various harvest celebrations of pioneers and Native Americans, as well as directions that readers can follow in order to duplicate the Robertsons' games, activities, and recipes, make up a good portion of the text--an effective blend of fact and fiction. Ind.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Heather Collins. In 1886 a twelve-year-old Canadian girl develops insight into the plight of the slaves when a young escaped slave hides in her home. Interspersed throughout the book are sections of factual information (on Harriet Tubman, the cotton gin, the North Star, etc.) and activities (making gingerbread cookies, a tin can lantern, a cornhusk doll). Realistic pencil sketches illustrate the overly ambitious volume. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) 4-6 A compilation of facts about the world's second-largest country includes maps showing the major cities, rivers, and mountains of the ten provinces and two territories, time lines highlighting important historical events, and other nuggets of information, such as the provincial and territorial coats of arms, birds, and flowers. This title will be useful as a quick reference source despite its uninteresting design and bland illustrations. Glos.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.