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The Long Way to a New Land Paperback – Illustrated, May 23 1986
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"We will go to America!" This classic early reader tells an exciting story and is also a good launching pad for classroom and home discussions.
Here is a realistic account of the struggles of European immigrants in the 19th century. This book is a helpful supplement to a history class and a courageous, compelling story for any occasion.
The year is 1868 and Sweden is a barren land of poverty and famine. Carl Erik and his family receive a letter from an uncle in America. The uncle realizes that the Erik family is near the end of their rope, and encourages them to move abroad to make a new life. The family sells all their personal items and begins a long trek across land and sea to America...
As a fan of this book and its companion, The Long Way Westward, put it: "The books describe the difficulty and dangers of the journey in a way that is non-complaining and full of optimism for a new life in America. Teachers, these books are wonderful for integrating with other subjects and topics, such as immigration, westward expansion, steamships, trains, geography, and American life in the 1860s."
Author-artist Joan Sandin's grandfather was born in Sweden and immigrated to Wisconsin with his parents in 1882, when he was only two. Joan herself spent time in Sweden and did extensive research to create her well-loved classic books about the immigrant experience.
- Reading age4 - 8 years
- Print length64 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelKindergarten - 3
- Lexile measure340L
- Dimensions15.24 x 0.48 x 22.86 cm
- PublisherHarperCollins
- Publication dateMay 23 1986
- ISBN-100064441008
- ISBN-13978-0064441001
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From the Publisher
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Product description
From the Back Cover
"We will go to America!"
It is 1868, and Carl Erik's family faces starvation in Sweden. As their hopes fade, they must endure a journey over land and sea to reach a better life in a new country thousands of miles away.
About the Author
Joan Sandin is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including the "I Can Read" books Small Wolf, written by Nathaniel Benchley, Snowshoe Thompson, written by Nancy Smiler Levinson, and her own The Long Way Westward and The Long Way to a New Land. Ms. Sandin lives in Tucson, AZ.
Product details
- Publisher : HarperCollins; Illustrated edition (May 23 1986)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 64 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0064441008
- ISBN-13 : 978-0064441001
- Item weight : 113 g
- Dimensions : 15.24 x 0.48 x 22.86 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: #216,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Es ist die Erzählung von Armen, Hungernden und Verzweifelten, die nach Missernten sich entschließen müssen, in ein fernes Land auszuwandern: Amerika.Die Schiffsreise ist gefährlich, sie machen desolate Erfahrungen, weil viele von ihnen krank sind, krank werden und auch sterben. Das Leben unter Deck zeigt wenig Abwechslung; im Gestank der vielfachen Ausdünstungen zusammengepfercht, die wenige Habe hütend, harrt man im lichtlosen Raum, notdürftig lebend und voller Angst darüber, endlich im fremden land anzukommen. Der Text ist schlicht, sachlich und instruktiv, die Bilder in dunklen,erdigen Farben gehalten, unterstreichen den düsteren Eindruck und sind sehr schön gezeichnet, mit charakteristischen Zügen der einzelnen Menschen. Und es ist Historie : Wie entstand Amerikas europäische Besiedlung? Weshalb verließ man die Heimat? Kam man damals ins gelobte Land?
Ob man für ein behütetes, wohlhabendes Kind Parallelen aufzeigen sollte zu heutigen Emigrations- und Flüchtlingsbewegungen scheint mir fraglich.
Mir immerhin schien das Bild von Afrikanern in Booten auf dem Mittelmeer auf...So weit entfernt sind wir Satten von unseren dem Hunger entkommenden Vorfahren ja nicht.

I recommend both books. In this book the family face with starvation in Sweden makes the trip to NYC. It was easy to imagine my ancestors on the same journey.


