Written by: Carol Bierman
Published by: Hyperion/Madison Press
Lexile Measure: 750L
"Yehuda saw a man approaching with a big bucket filled with milk and a basket of long yellow fruit. He was stopping at every child, giving each on a cup of milk and one of the strange pieces of fruit. Yehuda watched as one boy bit right into the yellow skin, made a face, and spit it out. Then he saw someone pull the skin down in strips and eat the soft white fruit inside. Yehuda smiled to himself - every day in America he was learning something new!" (pg. 35)
Summary: Carol Bierman shares the story of her father's journey from Russia to America. Yehuda's father is ordered into the Russian army and never returns. His mother and two sisters experience wartime and his youngest sister is killed by shrapnel from and explosion as the German army invades their town. This book includes photos and illustrations which depict the trek of Yehuda (Julius) Beirman, his mother and sister through Russia, into Poland, on their ocean voyage, and onto Ellis Island. Yehuda is detained on Ellis Island because of an injury he received as they traveled across Russia into Poland. He must prove that he is healthy enough that he will not be a burden on the American citizens.
Learning Objectives: Students will learn about Ellis Island and the experiences many immigrants had upon entering America in an autobiographical format. Photographs and illustrations will help students understand more the challenges that many immigrants face as they travel toward a land which held many hopes and dreams. They will also learn about some of the challenges of arriving in a country with new traditions, customs, language and food.
