The Kids Book of Great Canadian Women features thumbnail biographies of over 130 women who have, at some point, called this country home. Including politicians, scientists, and artists, the collection covers a wide range of subjects, supported by an index and historical timeline that puts these individual lives in context. The usual suspects retain their top spots (we can never omit Laura Secord), but care has been taken to include First Nations women, women with disabilities, and women of colour.

Author Elizabeth MacLeod has penned several biographies for children, including The Kids Book of Great Canadians, and writes accessible and tidy narratives suited for readers aged eight to 12.

While I appreciate the scope and inclusiveness of the text, I often found these mini-biographies unsatisfying and one-note. There is no room for nuance or for the acknowledgment of flaws (we don’t hear, for instance, of Mary Pickford’s sad alcoholic demise), an approach that makes the text steadfastly earnest and, consequently, a little dull. While the information is sound and, in many cases, novel, the delivery isn’t particularly exciting or inspiring.

Similarly, it’s unfortunate that the series doesn’t use photos where possible, as DK’s Eyewitness books so successfully do. In some cases, John Mantha’s portrait illustrations are unflattering or even unrecognizable depictions, and the overall look reads “textbook.” A more engaging style might have made kids more eager to learn these important stories outside of the classroom or library.