(4) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel San Souci & Justin San Souci. Some fur traders accept a mysterious stranger's offer to be magically transported home for Christmas Eve...provided they don't speak until they arrive. They break the promise but outwit the stranger for a happy ending in this variant of a Canadian tale. The conflict is too-easily resolved, but the chilly illustrations and smattering of French provide a strong sense of place. Glos.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) YA Taking its name from the groups of canoes used by traders, this volume provides a history of the fur trade in North America. The text profiles major players in the industry in addition to examining the effects of trade on Native Americans, Europeans, and American settlers. Numerous sidebars and black-and-white illustrations enhance the readable text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 History Mysteries series. Before leaving Ohio to pursue life as a peddler, sixteen-year-old Will Spencer helps Noah, a slave, escape to Canada. When he learns that Noah's family is still in Kentucky, he agrees to steal them and bring them north to freedom. Though Will's horrified discovery--that slave owners view slaves as "stock" that they own, work, and breed--seems naive, his passion for abolishing slavery is inspiring.

Reviewer: Anne St. John