Hannah and her family decide to head west to find a better life, and one day in early spring, they pack up all they own and set out on their grand adventure. Reprint. AB. NYT. "
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
"One day in early spring we packed everything we had into our wagon, tied our milk cow Sadie on behind, and set out to find a new home. Going West." Narrated by seven-year-old Hannah, so begins this haunting evocation of times past. Although Van Leeuwen sets forth a representative pioneer tale, her story of one indomitable family is rich with particulars--the hailstorm that ruins the first vegetable crop, the wildflowers that bloom "in mounds of pink and lavender and blue, like soft pillows," the neighbor who brings to Hannah's cabin his flute and eventually his new wife. Into a gentle text brimming with family warmth and love, Van Leeuwen ( Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life ; the Oliver and Amanda Pig series) packs a wealth of emotional moments--as when Mama lies down in the tall prairie grass and sighs, "Oh my, this is a lonesome land." Allen's ( In Coal Country ) scumbled, subdued pastel drawings, on sepia stock, masterfully conjure up the expanse of land and feelings. Like pages torn from a frontier journal, stirring sketches and lyrical text form a moving tribute to the brave families to whom the book is dedicated. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-- Seven-year-old Hannah describes her family's journey west and their first year of settlement on the vast American prairie. Her story includes incidents similar to those found in Laura Ingalls Wilder's ``Little House'' books (HarperCollins) and in Brett Harvey's My Prairie Year (1986) and Cassie's Journey (1987, both Holiday), but is for younger audiences. Van Leeuwen provides a more general description of settlers' lives that seems almost ahistoric; no clear place or time period is established. The family travels by Conestoga wagon, yet they make the trip alone. The distances covered seem vast, but that is perhaps due to the perspective of the young narrator. The requisite encounter with Native Americans is benign, with the family and uninvited guests sharing donuts and smiles all around. Allen's chalk illustrations on brown textured paper have a soft unfocused quality that appropriately gives the sense of being a reminiscence. Although this book does not add new material for children studying westward expansion, the simple vocabulary and evocative pictures provide a quiet beginning for general discussions about the past. --Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable book for elementary students.,
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This review is from: Going West (Picture Puffin Books) (Paperback)
I use this book (with many others) as part of my Westward Expansion/Pioneers unit for 3rd graders. It touches nicely on the subject and provides for opportunity to expand (in more detail of course) on the various encounters and experiences by the family along the way while "going west". My students enjoy it and always comment positively on it, both text and illustration.
3.0 out of 5 stars
I prefer Laura Ingalls Wilder,
This review is from: Going West (Picture Puffin Books) (Paperback)
I was disappointed in this book. The artwork made it seem like it would be something new and different (from the cover page: "The full-color artwork was prepared with charcoal, pastel, and colored pencils. It was then scanner-separated and reproduced in red, blue, yellow, and black halftones.") -- but the story itself is like a pale shadow of Little House on the Prairie. How they packed, camped, slept outside, forded a river... the part where Pa drove away every day down to the river and cut down trees to bring back and use for the logs to build their new home... it's all exactly the same. Winter came and the snow was so deep that Pa tied a rope between the house and barn and held onto it to go back and forth and do his chores... and so on and so forth. I disagree with the review below that the author didn't do any homework; but it looks to me like he/she only read ONE book -- and I'd rather read the original! Skip this book and get the real thing. Laura Ingalls Wilder did a better job.
2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The book has not been well researched.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Going West (Hardcover)
The story is nicely told and the illustrations are beautifully done, but there are details that concern me from a historical point-of-view. Where do they find logs big enough for the walls of a cabin on the prairie? Instead the author should have had them build a sod house. Also, there would not be room to ride in the wagon or to sleep in it. It would be too crammed with goods and food. Usually the children, except for very little ones, walked. The family slept outside. These were very narrow and cramped wagons.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
There were five of us: Papa and Mama; me. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
There were five of us: Papa and Mama; me. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 12
books:
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20
books
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- Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney in Back Matter
- The Owl Who Became the Moon by Jonathan London in Back Matter
- Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride by Vivian Walsh in Back Matter
- Fritz and the Mess Fairy by Rosemary Wells in Back Matter
- The Always Prayer Shawl (Reading Rainbow Books) by Sheldon Oberman in Back Matter
See all 12 books this book cites
- Geographic Literacy Through Children's Literature: by Linda K. Rogers in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Practice with Purpose: Literacy Work Stations for Grades 3-6 by Debbie Diller on page 146, and Back Matter
- Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension to Enhance Understanding by Stephanie Harvey on page 212, and Back Matter
- Turkey And the Eu: An Awkward Candidate for Eu Membership? by Harun Arikan in Back Matter
- Hannah of Fairfield: Pioneer Daughters #1 by Jean Van Leeuwen in Back Matter
See all 20 books citing this book
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