An Ellis Island Christmas

Illustrated by Dennis Nolan
Ebook
On sale Oct 16, 2018 | 32 Pages | 978-0-593-11472-8
A moving story about one family's daring journey from Poland to America and their hope for a better future in their new home. 

Krysia does not want to leave her home and her friend, Michi, but there are soldiers with guns on the streets and her mother says that they must go. Krysia, her two brothers, and her mother pack their favorite belongings and begin the long, harrowing journey to America. Krysia is scared but she finds courage when she thinks of her father waiting for her in America with the promise of a better tomorrow.

Inspired by Maxinne Rhea Leighton's father's journey from Poland to America, this is a powerful reminder of the beacon of hope and opportunity that Ellis Island symbolized and the importance of family at Christmastime.
  • WINNER
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Book
Maxinne Rhea Leighton View titles by Maxinne Rhea Leighton
Dennis Nolan is an award-winning illustrator whose artwork has appeared in The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White, and two of Bruce Coville’s retellings of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, along with numerous other books. His own book Sea of Dreams was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s Picture Books for 2011. View titles by Dennis Nolan

About

A moving story about one family's daring journey from Poland to America and their hope for a better future in their new home. 

Krysia does not want to leave her home and her friend, Michi, but there are soldiers with guns on the streets and her mother says that they must go. Krysia, her two brothers, and her mother pack their favorite belongings and begin the long, harrowing journey to America. Krysia is scared but she finds courage when she thinks of her father waiting for her in America with the promise of a better tomorrow.

Inspired by Maxinne Rhea Leighton's father's journey from Poland to America, this is a powerful reminder of the beacon of hope and opportunity that Ellis Island symbolized and the importance of family at Christmastime.

Awards

  • WINNER
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Book

Author

Maxinne Rhea Leighton View titles by Maxinne Rhea Leighton
Dennis Nolan is an award-winning illustrator whose artwork has appeared in The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White, and two of Bruce Coville’s retellings of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, along with numerous other books. His own book Sea of Dreams was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s Picture Books for 2011. View titles by Dennis Nolan

Books for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Every May we celebrate the rich history and culture of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Browse a curated selection of fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators that we think your students will love. Find our full collection of titles for Higher Education here.

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