Skip to content

Canada: Our Home and Native Land book cover

Canada: Our Home and Native Land

By Alister Mathieson and Marianne Ilass
Illustrations by Derek Douglas

Price $8.95 plus HST
*Free shipping over $75

Purchasing from outside of Canada or the United States? Contact us for shipment details.

Canada: Our Home and Native Land is a book that takes readers on a road trip across the country and through time, past to present.  The book examines the many unique influences, characteristics and values that collectively define the culture and identity of present day Canada. It looks at the contributions to Canadian identity made by people and by the various geographical, historical and political features of Canadian communities and regions. It looks at the basic elements that describe Canadian identity including respect for human rights, the right for citizens to vote, respect for diversity, bilingualism, multiculturalism and unity.

Our animal friends - Bo the Buffalo, Gabrielle the Canada goose, Miki the Moose and Bernie the Beaver introduce each letter in a fascinating and entertaining way. They also ask some probing questions at the end of each letter encouraging the reader to learn more about, and have discussions with friends about the subject at hand.

Canadians are well respected citizens of the world. Canada is one of the oldest federal democracies in the world.  We are international peacekeepers and volunteer in world disaster relief efforts. We love hockey, maple syrup, and the great outdoors. We say eh! A lot, have fought off invasions, survived disasters and voted for, and embraced unity. We are a very big multi-cultural bi-lingual country.  We are innovators. We live in communities. We have an abundance of natural resources. We value and protect our land, water and wildlife. We are quietly and strongly patriotic. Being Canadian means standing for justice, equality and human rights.

Details for Canada: Our Home and Native Land

AUTHORS
Alister Mathieson and Marianne Ilass

ILLUSTRATOR
Derek Douglas

ISBN
978-0-9920824-2-0

PRICE
$8.95 plus HST (Harcover) 64 pages

children's book badge

Hear from our readers

“This book truly is a fun and informative road trip through Canada’s incredible history. Along the way, young readers get to meet Canadians who made a difference, see our beautiful landmarks and learn about human rights, diversity and equality. This book and its delightful illustrations will make you smile as you appreciate how unique and special our country is, from A to Z and coast to coast. Through the journey, students will learn that inclusion and diversity are at the core of Canadian values.”

—Rick Hansen, CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation


“Our Home and Native Land does for Canada what too few books do. It takes us from sea to sea to sea in this great land and stops at the geographical, historical and cultural landmarks we should all be proud of, from Anne of Green Gables to Niagara Falls, across the Prairies, over the Rockies, on the railways, stopping to gaze at the majesty of this country in all of its expressions. It is a glorious little book that should be mandatory reading for all school children.”

—Joe Kertes, Author of the Afterlife of Stars


“This is a marvelous book for young readers, both as a guide to school studies about Canada and simply for the joy of reading. The sequel to Canada: Our Road To Democracy, it tells stories of Canada in appealing fashion centred around each letter of the alphabet. The four animal characters that animate the book will draw in the young and the young at heart alike. I am certain that parents and grandparents will especially enjoy imitating the voices of the beaver, buffalo, goose and moose as they bring this story to life!”

—His Excellency the Right and Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. Former Governor General of Canada

Look inside and explore our country

  • B is for Beaver
  • D is for Diversity
  • F is for First Nations
  • H is for Hockey
  • M is for Maple Leaf
  • U is for United Nations
  • Y is for Yoho

Your full chapter guide

A – is for Anne of Green Gables

B – is for Beaver

C – is for Chinooks

D – is for Diversity

E – is for Explorers

F – is for First Nations

G – is for Geography

H – is for Hockey

I – is for Inuit

J – is for July 1st.

K – is for Klondike

L – is for Lakes

M – is for Maple Leaf

N – is for Niagara Falls

O – is for Ottawa

P -  is for Prairies

Q – is for Quebec

R – is for Rockies

S – is for Scenery

T – is for Terry Fox

U – is for United Nations

V – is for Veterans

W – is for Whales

X – is for Marks the Spot

Y – is for Yoho

Z – is for Zinc