Customer Reviews

Welcome to Josefina's World: 1824 (American Girl)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Josefina's World" is an excellent supplement to the Josefina chapter books and short stories. Although each chapter book and short story has a section in the back with historical information that is relevant to the story in the book, "Josefina's World" is a colorful, informative historical overview with the kinds of information that readers will most want to know. There are wonderful cut-away pictures of Josefina's rancho and of a pueblo, which many children will find appealing. The experiences of birth, childhood, and marriage are covered along with fashion, cleanliness, faith, health and medicine, and the importance of the role of the community. Stories of real people of the time and the retelling of the folk tale of "La Llorona" supplement the text. Historical information slips in with the coming of the Spanish, the blending of Pueblo and Spanish cultures, the significance of trade from Mexico City and the Santa Fe Trail, and the coming of the Americans in the mid-nineteenth century. The text is divided into short sections that are easy to read and full of accurate, important historical information. The pictures show delightful representations of colonial New Mexico and even someone who does not read the text will get a comprehensive view of Josefina's World.

We bought the MP3 recording of the Josefina story collection for my six year old homeschooling daughter, as we are living on the road and listening to books on tape is a long-lasting, space-compact form of entertainment for traveling. She has listened three times through to the five hour series as we travel through the southwest, pointing out yucca (Josefina uses the roots for soap suds) and rabbit brush and prickly pear, mentioning a spanish word here and there. It has been a highlight of this month for her and she has learned immeasurably from it. We bought this book as a companion to the audible stories - no dolls or other books, just the MP3 and this reference book. And it's a perfect combo, giving her something to refer to as she's listening. We have spent hours looking through this together and it gives her a basis for her own drawings as she listens. I can't recommend this informative series highly enough. We'll be buying the Addie MP3s as we travel through antebellum south next month. She says about this book, "I like it, it's interesting. There's cool different things that we don't do in our life that I can learn about. It's a really fun book and it teaches six year olds about different kinds of lives and different kinds of places."

Great book full of wonderful pictures and great historic information. My daughter can spend hours exploring the book time and time again.

I read this book and was impressed with it telling of part of the Ameican story. I purchased this one plus other in the series for grandchildern ages 6 thru 10. They also found them enjoyable and fun reading. I take exception to some , what I consider re inventing of history and distortion of the principle American Mythology, but never the less find them very satisfactory reading for children. Given the derth of cultural and historical knowledge in the young, any good tales are appreciated
I recommed this and the other books in the series highly.

Great informative book with great pictures and interesting format for the time period. Made a great companion to the mini-doll that went with the book.

I never received the book!! Following is the lame excuse I received from the seller after a month of waiting and no communication from her in spite of a claim to the contrary:

"Yes, I did respond to your email! I never received an email from Amazon in the first place that the book had been sold!. I also never sent a confirmation that the book was sold and would be shipped on a certain date! You are supposed to already have a refund on the cost.I am very sorry for the inconvience that this has caused you. The book is no longer available. All I can do is offer my apologies in the matter."

I would not do business with this vendor again and warn anyone who would to check that Amazon got the "confirmation the book had been sold." Baloney!!