American Too [Hardcover]

Elisa Bartone (Author), Ted Lewin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996 | Age Level: 4 and up

More than anything, Rosina wants to be a modern American girl. But how can she when everything around her on Mulberry Street is Italian. In this companion to Caldecott Honor book Peppe the Lamplighter, Elisa Bartone and Ted Lewin give modern-day children a special look at America just after World War I. American Too is based on the true story of how one young girl's imagination made her American dream come true. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in the Little Italy of post-WWI Manhattan, this uplifting companion to the Caldecott Honor book Peppe the Lamplighter introduces a feisty girl who emigrates from Italy with her family. As their ship arrives in New York, Rosina spies the Statue of Liberty and announces that she wants to wear a dress and crown and carry a torch, just like that grand lady. Determined to be "a modern American girl," she changes her name to Rosie, refuses to eat the eggplant her mother packs in her school lunch and tells her parents she will not play the queen in the annual feast of San Gennaro. But as she watches the preparations for the Italian feast day, Rosie hatches a plan that lets her participate in the celebration yet prove her allegiance to her new country. The likable heroine and judicious details about the setting help distill the experience of new Americans caught between two cultures. Lewin's stunning paintings, often so clearly focused and lifelike as to resemble photographs, convey the flavor of the period?in clothing, decor, architecture?as well as Rosie's highly charged emotions. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Rosina, an Italian immigrant, wants to be a modern American girl. Questioning the characteristics and traditions of her family, she reacts with anger instead of pride when told she will be the queen of the San Gennaro feast. The Statue of Liberty provides inspiration and when the festival procession begins, Rosina appears, not in the white taffeta dress made by her mother, but dressed as Lady Liberty. Her costume is a success and she is glad the feast is a part of her new life in America. Lewin is a skilled watercolorist. His familiar, realistic illustrations capture the expressions and emotions of the characters. Set in New York City shortly after World War I, the pictures give a general feel for the interiors and dress of the time. Simple and patriotic, the story demonstrates a child's desire to fit into new surroundings. The difficulties of balancing a strong ethnic background with America's melting-pot mentality are neither addressed in depth nor resolved, but the basic idea that the two can coexist and perhaps enhance one another comes through.
Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers; 1st edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688132782
• ISBN-13: 978-0688132781
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,003,655 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic view of Italians in America, May 2, 2010

By 

Suzanne Amara (MA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: American Too (Library Binding)

I'm not sure why the other reviewers were quite so harsh about this book. I found it to be quite well done. My husband's family are Italians who came to America in the early 60s, and I found so much about this book to feel familiar---the food, the festival, the North End type neighborhood---I loved the pictures. Yes, Rosie wants to be American---is that so horrible? I bet many children of immigrants had moments where they just wanted to be like everyone else, and even, horror of horror, yelled about it and were a little unreasonable. Must every book show nothing but pride and acceptance of cultures, even one's one? I think the ending showed that Rosie did love her Italian culture and family, in her own way. I found this book very refreshing. In today's culture, Italians seem like one of the last cultural groups it's okay to make fun of or stereotype as Mafia or something, and this book didn't do that. I will be proud to read it to my own little girl, a second generation Italian-American.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother with this book, July 28, 2006

By 

cathmom&teacher (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Too (Hardcover)

This book is not historically accurate. Italian immigrant children, like most immigrants children, wanted to be true Americans, but they were not rude as the main character in this book is portrayed. The book makes a mockery of the traditions of many immigrants in order to make a politically correct point. The only thing that is probably historically accurate in this book is that the main character wore a costume in a procession. If you are looking for a book about children of Italian immigrants that is accurate try "Peppe" by this same author. It's interesting that she portrays the boy Peppe accurately, but the girl in "American Too" as a feminist.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Terrible, February 2, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: American Too (Library Binding)

Really, a terrible book. The text shows Rosie to be a selfish, rebellious brat who yells at her father and only cares about being American. She doesn't care a thing about the Italian culture. There's a stupid bit of love interest in the form of a boy named Jimmy, who gawks at Rosie and asks her to dance in the end. Of course, after shunning him for so long, she accepts the dance.

The illustrations are beautiful, but even they can't redeem this awful story. Buy something else.