A young Native American boy is at the heart of this charming adventure that takes place nearly 200 years ago. The story centers around the busy fur trading post of Fort William on Lake Superior. In the winter, the boy's father guides voyagers into the northwest to trade furs. Those same voyagers paddle back to Fort William with their packs of furs, while another group comes in from Montreal bringing supplies. It’s a time of feasting, dancing, and trading stories around the campfire.

Pendziwol’s engaging text combines with Debon’s vivid and historically accurate illustrations to give an authentic picture of life at a fur trading post in the early 1800s.

Gr 2-5-An interesting account of the Canadian fur trade in the early years of the 19th century as seen through the eyes of a Metis boy. The youngster lives with his family just outside Fort William, which was the major trading post linking the fur trade of northern and central Canada to the North West Company's main headquarters in Montreal. Voyageurs, easily identified by the red sash they wore, were the men who worked in the fur trade, traveling along the trade routes by canoe. The boy, who longs to be a voyageur like his father, describes his family's life and the role that Fort William played in the opening of the Canadian interior. Historically accurate, this story is full of interesting details that add to its authenticity. Sharp-eyed readers may also catch the native name for Lake Superior, Gitchee Gumee. A brief history of Fort William and the North West Company is appended. The map on the inside cover provides geographic context and the beautiful gouache and mixed-media illustrations work well to support the text. A fine addition to historical picture-book collections, particularly in Canada.-Robyn Walker, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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  • Geography & Cultures
    • Multicultural Stories