Coming to America: The Story of Immigration
written by Betsy Maestro, illustrated by Susannah Ryan
This picture book covers immigration to America from the beginning. It starts with people who crossed over during the Ice Age and continues up to today’s new immigrants. I really like that the book recognizes not only the hardships of the people traveling and arriving here, but also the impact these arrivals had on those who were already living here. I appreciate the use of quotations around Columbus “discovering” the “New World.” And I also appreciate that the book recognizes that not all people came to America because they wanted to. While some immigrant stories were a bit glossed over in the book, like the immigrants who arrived in the west, I felt this book did a really good job overall covering the topic of immigration. I enjoyed the ending page and its sentiments about how America’s “strength and independence” comes from its history of immigrants. The timeline and interesting facts at the back of the book were also great additions. If you’re studying immigration, this is a must-read. But I also think it’s such an important read for any child to recognize the history and importance of America’s diverse people.