CM Magazine: The United Nations

The United Nations: Its History and the Canadians Who Shaped It.
Desmond Morton.
Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1995. 65pp, paper, $18.95.
ISBN 1-55074-222-1.

Subject Headings:
United Nations-Juvenile literature.
United Nations-Canada-Juvenile literature

Grades 5 - 9 / Ages 10 - 14.
Review by Caroline Thomson.

excerpt:

If you and other people in your neighbourhood wanted to get something done, you begin by getting organized. Why not start a neighbourhood association? You would need to hold a meeting, or assembly, where each family would have one vote. If fighting is a problem in your area, you might choose a special peace committee. It would be smart to include the richest and most important families on the committee, because if they don't keep the peace, no one will. You could also form a committee to improve living conditions. And since there'll probably be arguments in your neighbourhood, how about a "court" to find a fair agreement.

The UN has all of these organizations and many more.

On October 24, 1945, a group of thirty-one countries formally joined together to become the United Nations. Their purpose was to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the UN, and in honour of that, many books on the institution are being published. Distinguished Canadian historian Desmond Morton has written The United Nations: Its History and the Canadians Who Shaped It, a book directed at Canadian youth.

UN charter

The United Nations has been in the news frequently over the last few years, and many children will have some idea of what it is and for what it stands. The UN is not an easy concept to explain; nonetheless, Morton manages to make his descriptions clear and easily understandable. He compares the world to a neighbourhood and the UN with a neighbourhood organization. In this way he explains why certain committees and organizations exist and what purpose they serve. (The analogy will also provide instructors with many ideas for classroom activities for studying the UN.)

Morton's book covers the history of the UN, why, where, and how it began, and explains its relationship to its predecessor, the League of Nations. He includes brief accounts of the role the UN has played in trying to manage many conflicts over the years, from the Suez Crisis in 1956 to the situation in the former Yugoslavia today.

Morton also deals with some of the difficulties or even failures that the UN has faced. He does not attempt to portray the UN as perfect or shy away from the organization's problems. On the other hand, he does not attack it. He clearly feels that there is a benefit to keeping the UN in place and continuing to support the work it does. So the book may be biased in the UN's favour -- but then a book emphasising its failures would provide a bleak picture of our world.

But this book is also specifically about Canada's role in the organization, and the many Canadians who have played important parts in its history. The information is presented in short, concise sections that are easy to understand and absorb. There are also many photographs of the personalities and places of the UN.

unflag

The book includes a glossary of unfamiliar terms and recommends to readers at the beginning that they refer to it when needed. There is also an index. Throughout, Morton refers readers to other relevant sections of the book to help clarify points or provide more information.

All of the information in The United Nations: Its History and the Canadians Who Shaped It is important and relevant. The focus on the Canadian role within the UN should help foster pride in our nation.

Kids Can Press gives the recommended age range for The United Nations as ten to fifteen. Although the information in the book would be useful for students aged fifteen or older, the presentation would seem too simple -- even condescending. I'm giving it an age range of ten to thirteen.

Recommended.

Caroline Thomson is a librarian in North York, Ontario. She holds an M.A. in history.

For ordering information contact Kids Can Press at 1-800-565-9523

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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