When I First Came to This Land [Hardcover]

Harriet Ziefert (Author), Oscar Brand (Author), Simms Taback (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (July 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399247939
• ISBN-13: 978-0399247934
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,287,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The adventures of a typical nineteenth century immigrant pursuing the American dream, October 5, 2009

By 

American Immigration Council's Community Educ... (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When I First Came to This Land (Hardcover)

Many baby boomers will remember joyfully singing Oscar Brand's folksong, "When I First Came to this Land," in primary school. Harriet Ziefert's story version, paired with Caldecott Award Winner Simms Taback's lively illustrations, introduces this simple immigration story to another generation of children. The repetitive language and humorous illustrations should appeal to students as they follow the adventures of a typical nineteenth century immigrant pursuing the American dream. Aimed at primary students, this imaginative book could serve as an introduction to American immigration history for students at any grade level.

4.0 out of 5 stars When I First Came to This Land, October 9, 2011

By 

marilyn Spencer (SAINT GEORGE, UT, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When I First Came to This Land (Hardcover)

I purchased this book to introduce a unit on culture to 2nd grade students. I like the way it explains that when we come to a new land it is not always easy to get what you are seeking. The author explains that with hard work we can achieve our goals and become happy. I like that the words are written as a song in the back of the book. I did not like that it did not give the music to go with the song. I will teach it to the students as a poem.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for elementary school music teachers, July 14, 2011

By 

Anne Burson (Takoma Park, MD United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When I First Came to This Land (Hardcover)

I use this book in my 3rd grade music classes. It has wonderful illustrations, provides an age-appropriate example of cumulative form in music, is a good example of how the lyrics of folk songs sometimes get changed over time, and teaches a bit about American history and the American experience at the same time. I highly recommend it for school libraries!