Beware, Pirates!
Written by: Frieda Wishinsky
Illustrated by: Dean Griffiths
Recommended for ages 6-9
Maple Tree Press $6.95

Join Emily and Matt as they travel back in time on their antique red sled, the Canadian Flyer. From the tower in Emily’s old home, the two new friends are taken on magical adventures into the past simply by reading the mysterious gold lettering that appears around the maple leaf on the sled. While engaging in this time travel, the children become part of important Canadian historical events.

In this first book of the series, Emily and Matt find themselves aboard a pirate ship, The Aid in 1577. As they endeavor to beat the evil pirates at their own game, they meet a young Inuit boy, Minik who has lost his friend to the mean-spirited men aboard the ship. Emily and Matt are determined to release the boy from the ship. Will they succeed without risking their own lives?

Readers learn facts about the Far North and the Inuit people as well as the way in which pirates conducted themselves back in this time.

If this all sounds familiar, it is because the stories are remarkably similar to the popular Magic Tree House books, which are based on American history. Finally, we have a series for young readers that entails adventure, Canadian history, male and female main characters and all at an appropriate reading level. There are six titles in the series thus far: Danger, Dinosaurs!, Crazy for Gold, Yikes! Vikings!, Pioneer Kids and Flying High.

In addition to the Canadian Flyer Adventures, Frieda Wishinsky has authored numerous books for children including Oonga Boonga and Jennifer Jones Won’t Leave Me Alone.