Reading Metrics
Description
During the late 1800s, 1.5 million immigrants were processed at Ellis Island in New York. Find out the history of the immigration station and what immigrants had to go through before entering the United States.
Quick Summary
If your kid is curious about how America became the melting pot it is, this little book about Ellis Island is a great starting point. Mortensen walks readers through what the immigration process actually looked like back in the late 1800s, from the long boat ride over to the sometimes scary medical inspections that awaited at the island. What I like is that it doesn't sugarcoat things kids will learn that some immigrants were turned away and that the whole experience could be pretty nerve-wracking but it also highlights the hope and determination that drove millions of people to make the journey. The short length (under 1,000 words) makes it perfect for kids who might feel intimidated by longer history books, and the reading level is accessible enough that confident readers in kindergarten through third grade can handle it mostly on their own. Parents should know there's a bit of tension around the inspection scenes, but nothing too scary. If your child enjoys this one, they might also like other books about American history for young readers, and it pairs nicely with a field trip to any museum with an immigration exhibit.