MONTREAL ADVENTURE. Neering, Rosemary. Markham (Ont.), Fitzhenry & Whiteside, c1984. 48pp, paper, $3.95, ISBN 0-88902-612-2. (Canadian Families) CIP Grade 3 Reviewed by Maureen Pammett Volume 13 Number 5 1985 September This is a new title in the Canadian Families series billed by Fitzhenry and White-side as a "program designed to help support the teaching of Social Studies and Language at the primary level." Montreal Adventure is at level three, one of five books for use in grade 3. A teacher's manual is available for each grade. Level three "looks at the community in a wider sense, taking students across Canada to visit children living in five major geographical regions." Because of the necessity for materials about Canada for our primary grades, this new title in the group will be welcomed by teachers. Four very simple stories are supported by "Think It Over" questions, some that require thought and opinion and some for story detail. Lots of "why" questions are used. Simple maps help to develop map skills and to set the scene. The use of comparison is well thought out with a series of picutres of Montreal 1762, 1884, 1910, 1984, accompanied by appropriate questions about the changes. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks. The short choppy sentences are a deterrent since they do not provide interesting language patterns. The words themselves, however, are obviously from a controlled vocabulary and are easy to read. The stories tend to be very superficial especially in the way in which they present the picture of community services. For example, when the children hear fire trucks this is the extent of information given: "I want to be a firefighter," said Pierre. "That must be fun." "Not me," said Arturo. "They get wet from all that water. It's dangerous, too." "I don't care," replied Pierre. "I could run into a burning building and rescue someone. Then my picture would be in the paper." "It's the fire trucks," shouted Arturo. "There must be a fire!" The trucks didn't go far. They pulled up in the next block. Firefighters jumped down and began unrolling hoses. In Acadian Summer* the ethnic mix was much clearer and provided added interest. In this new one it is still very much present, but so subtle that it might be overlooked. Teachers dealing with units in the primary areas could use this as a basis for study but would want to add a great deal from other sources as well. Maureen Pammett, Peterborough Country Board of Education, Peterborough, Ont. •Reviewed XI1/4 July 1984, p. 170