About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts asking questions about your family's history or notices that people in your community have different cultural backgrounds. It is an essential resource for children who are beginning to understand that the comforts of modern life were not always a given and that many families arrived in America with nothing but hope and a willingness to work hard. This nonfiction classic uses archival photography to tell the true stories of children who arrived at Ellis Island in the early 1900s. It explores themes of resilience, the weight of financial hardship, and the deep bonds of immigrant families. While it honestly depicts the struggles of child labor and crowded tenements, it remains grounded in the grit and determination of its young subjects. It is an eye-opening, empathy-building read for children ages 8 to 12 that celebrates the human spirit and the diverse roots of the American identity.
