The Little Pioneer
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, this picture book about one little girl's journey westward is engaging and appropriate for younger readers.
Children of all ages will be captivated by one brave girl's adventures come to life as she relates the challenges, excitement, and dangers of the American frontier. Filled with drama and gorgeous, evocative illustrations, this first-person tale is a testament to the determination, solidarity, and courage of the early pioneers, each chasing their own American Dream.
"a powerful message about hope and resilience . . . A spectacular visual journey through time, great for read-alouds."—School Library Journal
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"In the fall of 1849, Papa passed on." Right from the start, Hancher's account of a fictional family's westward trek acknowledges the difficulties of life on the frontier. Narration comes from a redheaded girl who describes her journey across the plains to California with her mother and brothers, one of four families making the trip together. Along the way, the girl's attitude toward Mr. Reed, the "gruff old mountain man" who is captaining the wagon train, softens; he rescues her when she gets washed into a surging river and teaches her skills that come in handy when she is separated from the group. Despite these hazards, the book generally strikes a romantic tone, due in large part to Hancher's illustrations his dusty, windswept landscapes emphasize the enormity of the journey and the vastness of the terrain the pioneers cross. Native Americans are never seen or mentioned, an omission that further leaves this tale feeling overly romanticized and divorced from historical realities. The artwork is charming and the narrator's growth rewarding, but it's not enough to offset the story's drawbacks. Ages 4 8.
