6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome to Samantha's World - 1904, July 15, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Welcome to Samantha's World-1904: Growing Up in America's New Century (American Girl) (Hardcover)
I use this book in my classroom as a reference book. It contains plenty of information about toys, dolls, games, and the things that children do at different stages of American History. The students enjoy this series, as most history text books do not focus on children's activities of a time period.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating look at American life in the early 1900s, May 4, 2010
This review is from: Welcome to Samantha's World-1904: Growing Up in America's New Century (American Girl) (Hardcover)
These American Girl Collection books are hard to find these days. In fact, unless one is willing to pay exorbitant amounts for them, the only places I could find them was at the local library. In this book, readers are introduced to Samantha Parkington, a nine-year-old orphan who is being raised by her wealthy grandmother in New York City. The book is rich in historical detail, providing a fascinating portrait of life in the early 1900s where exciting new things were being invented or built, such as the subway system in New York City, the introduction of hot dogs as a snack, the elevated train or El, etc.
Life differed for the poor and the rich in the city - the rich lived in grand mansions on Fifth Avenue, which was also known as "Millionaire's Row." There are lavish illustrations throughout the book, such as the illustration of a mansion and the different rooms contained within, together with detailed descriptions explaining the function of each room.
Famous people of the time are also featured, such as Adelina Patti who was known as "the Queen of Song" and became the most famous opera singer in the world at the time, and who was originally from New York City. My young daughter was delighted to read about the amusements of the time - old-fashioned roller skates, magic lanterns, blub-blub-bubbles,playing with dollhouses (for those who could afford them), etc. We giggled at the old-fashioned costumes of the day, such as bloomers and the rather antiquated bathing dresses.
My favorite segment was the feature on medicines and remedies of the time - mustard powder for reducing swelling, sarsaparilla to purify the blood, foot powder, tooth powder (which served as a substitute for toothpaste), talcum powder, castor oil which was used as a cure-all (yuck!), etc. There are interesting features on the Roosevelts, the Gilbreaths who were called the efficiency experts, and also the Vanderbilt's (focusing on Consuelo Vanderbilt's doomed love affair and subsequent arranged marriage to the Duke of Marlborough).
The book also touches on child labor which was common during this period. It was disconcerting to read about children as young as three being forced to work twelve hour days weekly! Young readers will be saddened to read about children being exposed to unhealthy working conditions in the cotton mills which resulted in lung diseases amongst many of them. The archival photographs of the period lend a touch of realism, making this an engaging reading experience. The Orphan Train is also featured, and it is mentioned that Nellie, Samantha's close friend has been chosen to ride the train. The reform and suffragist movement for women is also described here. These American Girl Collection books are rich in historical detail, and beautifully illustrated - they are informative and interesting and I can't recommend them enough!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
History of Women for Little Girls and Those Who Came Before Us, June 22, 2009
This review is from: Welcome to Samantha's World-1904: Growing Up in America's New Century (American Girl) (Hardcover)
American Girl (Publisher) has developed and published a series of books for our little girls,ages 8 and up, having to do with "what it was like in this country at the turn of the twentieth century", or at another time, "during the years following the Second World War", as well as other eras. The titles all begin with "Welcome to ..... Kaya's World 1764", "Welcome to Felicity's World 1774", "Welcome to Josefina's World 1824", or "Welcome to Molly's World 1944", and many more in between.
Along with these different era-themes, are the fact that each book features a child from a different area in the United States. Some of the names are: Kaya, Felicity, Josefina, Kristen, Addy, Kit, Molly, and Rebecca. The books in this series will walk your daughter, sister, grand daughter, niece, or even great grand daughter through a panorama of history, a history of the social life and customs of women in our country, featuring persons of note, achievements, events, trends, inventions, and day to day celebrations of how we celebrate life.
For me, this particular book in the series, Welcome to Samantha's World .....1904, closely parallels my Grandmother's entry into the United States from Europe, 101 years ago. Looking back over the past 101 years, as I try to discover the history of things like hardwood floors, electricity, telephones, automobiles, factories, public transportation above and below the ground, airplanes, phonographs, and even hot dogs, I am in awe over the development of our life in the last century.
Today, people stash such keepsakes in their basements and attics, some go to garage sales, and others still visit art and historical museums to find some things that remind them of their family history, beginning with Grandma, and Grandpa, too. This book, in particular, introduces us to events in history that have shaped our lives: womens' voting rights, immigration, factory and labor conditions, reformers, and the children who became orphans and travelled our country on what were called "orphan trains"
Some people in this world audience are touched by historical films on cable; many of these films are geared toward little boys and men. The American Girl series is devoted to the history and development of our women, girls and older women, alike.
As you browse the Amazon website, you will find these books, mostly available from collectors; prices range from $2.95 to $353.00 and can be purchased from sellers other than Amazon. Yes, they have become "collectors items", and we've hardly noticed. You may have to search the book shelves of your neighborhood library to get a hold of one of these books, to see the wonderful bibliography attesting to the history of the event, item, or person. It's all right here, in one place, like a scrapbook made just for the reader. Read it and smile!
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