Customer Reviews

The Long Way to a New Land (I Can Read Book 3)

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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The Long Way to a New Land and The Long Way Westward are companion books that chronicle a family's journey from their Swedish farm, which is suffering from an extended drought, to a new home in Minnesota. 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.

Oh my gosh! I am so excited to have found this book! I used to read this when I was in grade school. (I am now 27.) I remember checking it out of the library on a regular basis along with 'Wagon Wheels'. I love the illustrations as well. I'm buying them both A.S.A.P.!

I'm a third-generation American, so I used this book to help my kids understand the immigration of their great-grandmother, especially relevant since we just spent Christmas with her. The time frame is earlier than Gramma's trip, but the desperation and the determination were right-on.

I thought this book did a great job describing some scary things without totally freaking children out. And yet, my kids clearly understood how out-of-control the parents in this story felt all through their journey.

The reading level is just right for this book -- excellent level 3 reader.

ps -- it's so nice to read an early reader that isn't about Thomas the Train, Tinkerbell, or Star Wars!

We ordered this for use in our 3rd grader's literature class. It is a wonderful depiction of the story of one family's journey to America. I know that it provided for my son an understanding of the cost of coming to America, along with the rewards of being an American citizen.

The Long Way to a New Land is of the series, "An I Can Read Book." On the back, suggested age is to 4 to 8, and I believe that is quite accurate, on the upper ages the child reading independently and on the lower ages as a read-aloud by the parent. The family in the book leaves a bleak existence in Sweden for new hope in America, based on a letter of encouragement from relatives who already had made the treacherous journey across the ocean. We follow the family through the journey, ending the book at arrival in the new land. For those interested, this family's saga continues in "The Long Way Westward." The pictures in Long Way to a New Land are dark blacks and grays, very little color, obviously suggesting the gray existence of the family. Unfortunately, it also means they are not easily seen, nor interesting, to the child reading the book or being read to. This is unfortunate, as it seemingly takes away some of the enjoyment of the book for the child, at least my children. I have used this twice now with 1st graders. The story itself is somber without being depressing, and interesting without being too long or detailed for a young child. I continue to think this is a good resource for the younger ones studying immigration to America during the early 19th century.

This a good book for beginning readers and acquaints them with the history of the United States Flag. It is not too "stuffy" for them to enjoy.