. . . If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 [Paperback]

Ann McGovern (Author), Anna DiVito (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1991 | Age Range: 7 - 10 years | Series: If You... | Lexile Measure: 600L (What's this?)

What kind of ship was the Mayflower? How did the Pilgrims feel when they saw land? What was the first building in Plymouth? In lively question-and-answer style, this fact-filled book answers all sorts of questions about the Pilgrims' journey on the Mayflower and their first year in America.

Boys and girls will find out why the Pilgrims left England to live in America, what they took with them on board the Mayflower, and the hardships they endured. They'll learn what the Mayflower Compact was, how the Pilgrims made a peace treaty with the Indians, and how these brave settlers managed to survive in their new land.

Ms McGovern has carefully researched the Pilgrims' journey and their first year in America. Her portrayal is full of fascinating detail about their everyday life. Young readers will be intrigued to discover that Pilgrim boys and girls slept on corn husk mattresses they made themselves, and that most of the houses had only one chair -- which was reserved for the man of the house!

The humorous, true-to-life illustrations serve as effective complements to the informative, fun-to-read text.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ann McGovern has been writing children's books for over 35 years. She has published over 45 titles including STONE SOUP, several books in the IF YOU LIVED.... series, and SCRAM, KID! (Viking, 1974), which won the Horn Book Award. McGovern spent part of her career at Scholastic, where she created the See-Saw Book Club. McGovern lives in New York City.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Were the people on the ship friends? Some people were. Some people weren't.

The sailors hated the Pilgrims. And the Pilgrims didn't like the sailors.

The sailors made fun of the Pilgrims who got seasick. They called them "glib-gabbety puke stockings." One sailor said he wanted to throw half the Pilgrims into the sea.

The sailors hated the Pilgrims' prayers and holy songs. The Pilgrims didn't like the sailors' bad language.

But at the end of the voyage, the sailors had to admit that the Pilgrims had plenty of courage.

And the Pilgrims were thankful that the sailors got them safely to the New World.

Product Details

• Age Range: 7 - 10 years
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; Reprint edition (November 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590451618
• ISBN-13: 978-0590451611
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Emigrants & Immigrants

More About the Author

Ann McGovern is the author of over 55 books for children and sales of her books exceed 30 million. She is the author of the classics STONE SOUP and TOO MUCH NOISE, as well as several IF YOU LIVED... books.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is hard to put down! November 8, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I got "If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620" for our Thanksgiving unit based on several glowing recommendations. I was not disappointed. Both my 5 yo and I had a hard stopping once we got started. I learned things about the Pilgrims I'd never known. And, the content is fascinating for children. It covered such curious topics as Did they bathe on the Mayflower?, What did they eat?, How were people who broke the law punished?, What did children do? It was written to entertain anyone over the age of 4. It's a question/answer book and exceptionally well done.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Like You Were There!!! October 13, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book by Ann McGovern depicts the life that you would have had on the Mayflower. You get a sense and almost feel like you are there with the rest of the pilgrims in 1620. The detail is just great and is a book that all kids should read from a historical standpoint.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Resource; A Great Story June 23, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I am a teacher who was looking for a book for my students to use when we study Thanksgiving. Without a doubt, this story is one of the best that we use. It is a great introduction to reading non-fiction, and it provides a wealth of information for students, parents, and teachers.

My students love the story. They can easily understand the Question-Answer format, and it is not overwhelming in its content. It's written in an 'easy reading' style that the students can understand. They are really interested in what the kids did during this time, especially what they did for fun.

I recommend this book to any student who wants to know more about the Pilgrims and their arrival to America. I also recommend this to any adult who is looking for a wonderful non-fiction book for their favorite child(ren).