Dirk McLean has written a compelling and simple story of a young Caribbean girl coming to Canada to join her parents after two years of separation. Hollie had stayed in Trinidad with Tanty Millie when her parents left to begin a new life in Canada. Her initial excitement in her new country is tempered by the reality of life with two working parents – her mom is busy running a hair salon and her dad’s a bus driver. In a few short pages, McLean depicts the differences between Hollie’s almost-idyllic life in Trinidad and the lonelier daily routine of her life in Toronto. A babysitter, 12-year-old Sita, who lives a few floors up, watches television with seven-year-old Hollie, takes her to visit the Eaton Centre, and takes her ice-skating but it doesn’t stop Hollie from wishing she were back in Trinidad. And yet the story isn’t bleak. Hollie has arrived before Christmas and her parents have time off over the holiday to celebrate with her.

The illustrations of Ho Che Anderson are bold but some are better than others. The warmth of the Trinidadian sun, the joy of seeing snow for the first time, and the thrill of gliding on skates are portrayed with an exuberant style. Unfortunately the cover is the least striking of all the visuals and doesn’t give the reader an appreciation for the richness of the art inside.

Steel Drums and Ice Skates is a helpful book for schools and libraries looking for material to help children adjust to Canadian life. Hollie’s new life in Canada will be a familiar story to many children. That’s not to say the audience for this book is limited to recent immigrants; this is an important book for all Canadian children because it helps them understand what it’s like to immigrate to this country.