These books expand children's understanding of immigration

Children are not immune to immigration issues. Whether it's a recently immigrated classmate, a televised news report on immigration struggles or overhearing adults discuss or argue the same, the subject of immigration is important to explore with children.

Our country struggles with many difficult issues, and in order to protect ourselves as a nation, changes must be made. In that process, let's be careful not to let hate overshadow clear thinking. With the current debates and protests, we must not forget the fact that the people who are most entitled to live on this land are the American Indians. Like it or not, the rest of us are immigrants, no matter when we arrived.

The books reviewed today put a human face to immigrants and immigration. Remember to share your own family's story of immigration to America with children. Our stories could be very similar indeed.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

"Molly's Pilgrim" by Barbara Cohen, illustrated in color by Michael J. Deraney, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 28 pages

Read aloud: age 4 and older. Read yourself: age 7-8 and older.

Molly is in third grade. A recent immigrant to America, her clothes and imperfect English are the cause of great laughter and cruelty among Molly's classmates. Molly feels she and her family will never fit in, and it would be better if they would all return to their homeland.

When Molly's teacher assigns a Thanksgiving project, Molly's mother wants to help. It is through this project that Molly's teacher helps all the students understand what being American really means.

Based on a true story, "Molly's Pilgrim" is a moving account of how painful it can be when you are different from others. It also speaks strongly of how America has been built by pilgrims of many colors, from many lands, and of many beliefs. Well written and illustrated, this choice will evoke a greater sense of tolerance and understanding that our strength as a nation comes from our diversity.

Librarian's Choice

Library: Dayton Valley Branch Library, 321 Old Dayton Valley Road. Branch Manager: Theresa Kenneston

Choices: "Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Park; "Jason's Gold" by Will Hobbs; "I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade" by Diane Lee Wilson

Books to Buy

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.

"Crossing the Wire" by Will Hobbs, HarperCollins, 2006, 216 pages, $15.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 10 and older. Read yourself: age 10 and older.

Ever since his father died, 15-year-old Victor has worked tirelessly, farming a small plot of land to provide food for his family and a meager income from what produce can be sold. Now, falling crop prices have Victor and his family on the brink of starvation, and Victor knows he has no choice but to "cross the wire" from Mexico into the United States, find work, and send money home to his family.

The journey is illegal and very dangerous, but the danger is compounded because Victor doesn't have the money to pay the human smugglers to sneak him across the border. With no other choice, he sets out alone. Facing armed border guards, unbearable heat in the Arizona desert, freezing cold in the mountains, never-ending hunger, and the constant threat of being caught or worse, these are just some of the real obstacles Victor encounters day-in and day-out in his desperate struggle to survive and save his family.

Through thorough research, Will Hobbs accurately places a human face to the thousands of immigrants who enter this country every year. An outstanding novel based in fact, "Crossing the Wire" is a must-read.

"Landed" by Milly Lee, illustrated by Yangsook Choi, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006, 40 pages, $16 hardcover

Read aloud: age 8 and older. Read yourself: age 8 and older.

On the day of Sun's 12th birthday, Sun's father tells him that their Chinese village is small, and that "we must go where there are more opportunities ... I will take you with me to America." Sun is excited, but his father warns him that the passage to America won't be easy. Sun will be detained, perhaps for a long time, at a place called Angel Island where he will be interrogated with questions and tests to verify that he really is his father's son.

"One wrong answer, and you might be sent back to China."

Sun studies hard in preparation for his journey, and once on Angel Island he continues to drill himself on the questions and answers he has memorized, but the one thing that was most difficult for Sun was direction. If only he had a compass to help him.

Beautifully written and based on a true story, "Landed" recounts the intense and dramatic Chinese immigration to the United States for more than 60 years.

• Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature and can be e-mailed at kendal@sunlink.net