Making a New Home in America - Hardcover

Reviews

Grade 1-4 The stories of four boys and girls, ages seven to nine, who have come to America from Japan, Cuba, India and Guyana. Two are here while their fathers fulfill career assignments in the United States, and two belong to families that have chosen to build new and permanent lives here. All share the common struggles of adjusting to a foreign culturea different language, strange foods, new schools and making new friends while missing those left behind. An epilogue tells the story of a Vietnamese refugee who has made America "home." Like the other Rosenberg/Ancona photo-essays, this title is marked by large, clear black-and-white photographs, a concise and straightforward, if somewhat generalized, text and a noticeably upbeat approach to problems presented. In this case, that optimism may be misleading. All five stories present children in financially comfortable middle-class homes, while in reality a large percentage of new Americans live in or near poverty. This portrayal of a full American life as one consisting of two cars, new furniture and color TV is troubling and one-dimensional. Despite this flaw, the title merits purchase because it presents introductory material with an understanding of and respect for both its young subjects and young readers. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, Wis.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.