An Ellis Island Christmas

Illustrated by Dennis Nolan
A moving story about one family's daring journey from Poland to America and their hope for a better future in their new home. 

Krysia does not want to leave her home and her friend, Michi, but there are soldiers with guns on the streets and her mother says that they must go. Krysia, her two brothers, and her mother pack their favorite belongings and begin the long, harrowing journey to America. Krysia is scared but she finds courage when she thinks of her father waiting for her in America with the promise of a better tomorrow.

Inspired by Maxinne Rhea Leighton's father's journey from Poland to America, this is a powerful reminder of the beacon of hope and opportunity that Ellis Island symbolized and the importance of family at Christmastime.
Maxinne Rhea Leighton View titles by Maxinne Rhea Leighton
Dennis Nolan is an award-winning illustrator whose artwork has appeared in The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White, and two of Bruce Coville’s retellings of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, along with numerous other books. His own book Sea of Dreams was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s Picture Books for 2011. View titles by Dennis Nolan
  • WINNER
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Book

About

A moving story about one family's daring journey from Poland to America and their hope for a better future in their new home. 

Krysia does not want to leave her home and her friend, Michi, but there are soldiers with guns on the streets and her mother says that they must go. Krysia, her two brothers, and her mother pack their favorite belongings and begin the long, harrowing journey to America. Krysia is scared but she finds courage when she thinks of her father waiting for her in America with the promise of a better tomorrow.

Inspired by Maxinne Rhea Leighton's father's journey from Poland to America, this is a powerful reminder of the beacon of hope and opportunity that Ellis Island symbolized and the importance of family at Christmastime.

Author

Maxinne Rhea Leighton View titles by Maxinne Rhea Leighton
Dennis Nolan is an award-winning illustrator whose artwork has appeared in The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White, and two of Bruce Coville’s retellings of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, along with numerous other books. His own book Sea of Dreams was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s Picture Books for 2011. View titles by Dennis Nolan

Awards

  • WINNER
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Book

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