Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage [Paperback]

Peter Arenstam (Author), John Kemp (Author), Catherine O'Neill Grace (Author), Plimoth Plantation (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Plimoth Plantation and the National Geographic Society come together to tell the true story behind the legendary voyage of the Mayflower. A meticulously researched work, Mayflower 1620 offers children a compelling, fresh account of this much-told story.

Vibrant photography of a rare reenactment using the Mayflower II leads readers imaginatively into the narrative. The vivid and informative text explores the story behind the exhibits at the living-history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Primary sources record what the voyagers wore, what they ate, and telling details of their journey. First-person accounts reveal the hopes and dreams they carried. Readers share in the long hours at sea, and in the dangers faced after landfall. Extensive end notes, a map, a detailed chronology, and a bibliography round out the full story of the Mayflower.

Readers experience a new look at this seminal historical event through the eyes of those who now regularly inhabit the world of the pilgrims—the actors who interpret the Pilgrim Voyage. This eye-opening book teaches children the value of closely reexamining everything we think we know.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-This account of the voyage of the Mayflower is illustrated with photographs taken on a June, 2001, cruise of the Mayflower II. The illustrations are the real draw here-large, vivid, and expertly composed. The historical context of the original voyage is briefly sketched, as is the journey itself. Short chapters chronicle the provisioning of a ship from that time and describe navigation techniques. The readable text gives a good idea of the many unpleasant aspects of shipboard life in 1620, but doesn't present information that isn't available in many other books. The authors state that the settlers had "little or no respect" for Native Americans. Regarding the seed corn and other items that the exploratory parties took from the Native villages, the comment is that "few- considered this stealing." No mention is made of William Bradford's journal note that the goods would be paid for when the owners could be identified, and that this was done the following spring. Susan Whitehurst's lavishly illustrated The Mayflower (PowerKids, 2003) is briefer. Kate Waters's On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship's Apprentice and a Passenger Girl (Scholastic, 1996) is also illustrated with color photographs of interpreters aboard the Mayflower II, but fictionalizes events. Ann McGovern's -If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 (Scholastic, 1991) looks drab by comparison, but contains more information. Children will enjoy looking at this book, and it is a reasonable choice to supplement classroom units.
Elaine Fort Weischedel, Millbury Public Library, MA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-9. Like Grace O'Neill's 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving (2001), from the same publisher, this handsome, large-size photo-essay draws on exhibits in the living history museum Plimoth Plantation to re-create a historical event and to distinguish fact from legend. This time the picturesque color photos are of actors in authentic costume on a recent re-creation of the Mayflower's famous voyage from England and the founding of Plimoth Colony. There is lots of fascinating detail in text, the captions, and the lengthy endnotes about voyagers (including a young boy); why they left; how they navigated; and what they found when they made landfall. Many legends are shown to be false: the settlers didn't call themselves Pilgrims; they didn't all leave for religious reasons; and, above all, they didn't find an empty paradise for the taking. The actors are clearly having fun, and readers, who will be intrigued by the pageantry, may want to talk about the history and what it means to us today. A map, a detailed chronology, and a bibliography are included. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (September 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079226276X
• ISBN-13: 978-0792262763
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Exploration & Discovery
  • #32 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Holidays & Festivals > Thanksgiving
  • #41 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Thanksgiving

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiastically recommended and enthralling, September 12, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage (Hardcover)

The collaborative effort of the Plimoth Plantation, authors Peter Arenstam, John Kemp, and Catherine O'Neill Grace, and photographers Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson, Mayflower 1620: A New Look At A Pilgrim Voyage is a superb picture book retelling of history for young people, about the voyage of the Mayflower ship and the lives of the colonists who braved hardship for a new future. Gorgeous, full-color photographs capture reenactments of how life aboard the Mayflower was like, and the down-to-earth text presents the events of history in detail. An enthusiastically recommended and enthralling educational read, Mayflower 1620 is ideal for young readers seeking to broaden and improve their knowledge of American colonial history as well as their basic reading skills.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History revealed, December 21, 2008

By 

Dianne Buck "4teach" (springfield,oh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage (Paperback)

This was very popular resource as we studied the Thanksgiving story. Great pictures, high quality.

3.0 out of 5 stars The photos leave a little to be desired, December 19, 2011

By 

Twin mom - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage (Paperback)

Sorry to be a bit negative here, but I just got this and I'm a little disappointed. I bought it for the photos, hoping to see National Geographic quality photos of a restored replica ship and pilgrim village. Instead, the photos are mainly of the actors who are playing the parts. There are closeups of people's faces with just a little rigging showing in the background, photos of "passengers" that show nothing else, etc. Not exactly the photographic walk-through of the ship I was hoping for. If you're getting this for interesting photos of the ship, I wouldn't. Now, if you happen to know one of the reenactors and you'd like an 8 x 10 glossy photo of him/her, this is your book. :)