Our Flag: The Story of Canada’s Maple Leaf

This popular one-stop reference to the national flag of Canada has been updated and revised. Ann-Maureen Owens and Jane Yealland start with basic background on all the different flags that have flown over Canadian land, and why they flew there. They then turn to the fascinating play-by-play of how today’s beloved maple leaf flag design came to be — including how some government leaders took a personal interest in the design, as well as how ordinary Canadians were given the opportunity to weigh in with their own ideas. The authors further round out the flag topic with illustrations and descriptions of Canadian provincial flags, flag designs from other countries and a brief recap of how people have used flags throughout history. There are two craft activities, perfect for classroom use: one for making a Canadian flag and its flagpole, and one for creating international code signal flags. The lively, colorful art throughout the book, by Bill Slavin and Esperanca Melo, brings the text to life and keeps it interesting and absorbing for young readers. Because the story of Canada’s flag so closely follows the story of Canada’s history, this title is a natural fit for any Canadian studies class or any social studies unit on the design and importance of national flags. There is also a map of Canada, providing a visual geography tool. The full index at the back and a list of internet sites for further information add to the usefulness of this unique resource.