An Ellis Island Christmas
By (Author) Maxinne Rhea Leighton
Illustrated by Dennis Nolan
Penguin Putnam Inc
Puffin
16th October 2018
United States
Children
Fiction
813.6
Winner of NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Book.
Paperback
32
Width 205mm, Height 256mm, Spine 4mm
139g
A moving story about one family's daring journey from Poland to America and their hope for a better future in their new home. Available again in paperback. Papa has already left Poland, and Krysia longs to see him again. "First we must cross the ocean to get to Ellis Island in America," says Mama. "That's where Papa is waiting for us." Saying goodbye to her home is hard, and the ocean voyage is long and stormy, but finally, on Christmas Eve, Krysia sees the Statue of Liberty! Dennis Nolan's richly rendered illustrations powerfully evoke the uncertainty, wonder, and hope of this young immigrant's experience. An Ellis Island Christmas is a holiday story to treasure, year after year.
Maxinne Rhea Leighton is a child of immigrants whose family emigrated from Poland to America through Ellis Island. Krysia's story was inspired by their journey and while it focuses on a specific time in our history of immigration, their story of uncertainty and longing for freedom and a better life is a timeless one. Dennis Nolan is the author and illustrator of the bestselling Dinosaur Dream. He is also the illustrator of many award-winning books including The Sword in the Stone, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Skywriter, the latter for Roaring Brook Press. He lives in Massachusetts.