Northwest Passage

If you for some unforgivable reason haven’t heard the great Stan Rogers’ baritone belt out the northwest passage then you’ve lived a life that is sadly void of true enduring happiness. I sing this song around the house so often my daughter started singing it too. Not because she likes it, but because she has no choice because she hears it multiple times per day (If my car steering wheel could roll it’s eyes it would right now because I’ve subjected it to many many more multiples of my rousing attempts at ‘The Northwest Passage’ but i digress). I think there’s actually a name for this (Stockholm syndrome). Anyways, if I told you I haven’t ever choked back tears listening to this song because it reminded me of sitting in the car on long drives with my dad I’d be a damned bald faced liar. Saying this song is special just doesn’t even come close. It’s got its own gravitational force. It creates its own life energy. I guess what I’m trying to say is that writing a book to accompany something that not only transcended folk art, but eclipsed metaphysics as we know it, well it’s a bold maneuver. But this book stands up and does a fine job. I bought this for my daughters 7th birthday and if it isn’t the most perfect gift that’s ever been offered by me I’ll be gosh darned.

This was purchased for our young readers, it has excellent illustrations. It is a good read!

Amazing voice and amazing artist...lost too soon to a jerk who needed to smoke in an airplane restroom. Funny, image evoking, tear jerking, excitement producing and history teacher...melded into one amazing performer.

nicely done

Came across this at a friends house and loved it. It is essentially the Stan Rogers song mixed in with history about Franklin and Arctic exploration. I've read it more than my kids!

Northwest Passage is a 12 x 9 hardcover children's book that is illustrated by Matt James. Mr. James drew his inspiration for his book from the song "Northwest Passage," written by Canadian singer Stan Rogers. The song tells the story of Mr. Rogers longing to take the Northwest Passage (a route that started in Canada's section of the Arctic Ocean, went through the Pacific Ocean and ended in Asia). This was apparently a perilous journey that many men search and died for until it was finally completed in 1906 by Roald Amundsen. In this book we see Rogers driving a bus around and reflecting on his life and comparing it to the men who sought this passage before him. The illustration style in the book is not necessarily my favorite as it comes off a bit juvenile at times. The main flow of the book is also interrupted several times to give pages of background/history in tiny font. At the end of the book is Rogers song set to verse and a gallery of the Passage explorers, which I found most interesting of all. It's a clever book, but unless you are familiar with the song or the importance of the Northwest Passage, this book probably isn't for you.

I wanted a book explaining the quest for the Northwest Passage.This book is based on an obscure Canadian folk song and a cross-Canada road trip by the folk singer's devoted fan (the author.)The background information that was presented was anti-technology and rah rah for Indians, the Knowers of All Things. Too much THE ARCTIC ICE IS ALL MELTING!!!!!!! nonsense and not enough about the exciting explorations.And Canada-centric.All of the listed explorers are British, no mention of the Perry expedition or, strangely, Matthew Henson, who lived with the Indians, spoke their language, and took their advice for a successful mission. Weird, since the book seems to be railing against the Franklin expedition as Ignorers of All-Knowing Indians..Anyway, I think I would love this more if I were Canadian. Maybe.I'm giving it an extra star for the interesting illustrations, but too many of them feature the author on a road trip. Who cares about the author OR the folk singer? I want a book about the Northwest Passage.

This was a gift for a child. He loves it and so do his parents, who sing the song.

Beautiful book! Illustrations are whimsical, thought-provoking interpretations of Stan Rogers' classic song. Lovely to have the music and lyrics for the song at the back of the book.I would have given five stars, but I found the placement of information pages (timeline of exploration of Canada, explorers' bios, etc.) throughout the book a little jarring. I would have preferred that they be put together at the end, so as not to interrupt the flow of the song. And, yes, now that I know they are there, I will just skip over them in reading the book to my grade 4/5 classes.Overall, a lovely addition to a home or school collection. It certainly tweaked my students' interest in Canada's many early explorers.

My partner loved this book. Beautiful illustrations. Great text. Lovely book!

Lovely book and illustrations. If you have a Stan Rogers fan, this makes for the perfect gift.

Beautiful book. My kids love the history that comes with the story. They also liked hearing the original song.