Ellis Island

January 1, 2009
K-Gr 2-Each book has an introductory figure who delivers information in narrative form, covering the topics through to the present day. The illustrations feature cheerful men and women of various ethnicities in settings where nothing is dirty or threatening. Even in "Angel", when Chinese immigrants are building the railroad, being questioned by a panel, or enduring long stints of confinement, everyone is smiling. Many of the illustrations are large-scale, flowing spreads, superimposed over text. While the digitally produced pictures have a characteristic flatness, the figures are given a sculptural quality through shading and color block variations The books are not detailed enough for in-depth research, but their simple language and brief descriptions make them effective for introducing children to patriotic topics. Though they are similar in approach to the "Our Nation's Pride" series (ABDO, 2008), these titles have a larger format."Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA"

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