Journey to a New Land: An Oral History Book

Elda Willitts recounts for the Ellis Island Oral History Project her childhood journey to America from Italy in 1916.

Children's Literature

Turn of the century immigration to America is brought to life in this vivid narrative taken from the Ellis Island Oral History Project. Elda Willitts recalls her large family's life in northern Italy and the financial difficulties which prompted her father's decision to emigrate in 1912. Elda is three years old when her father and oldest brother leave for San Francisco. The family does not raise the money to reunite until she is seven. Then, their long-awaited journey to America is postponed by red tape. Bitter disappointment dissolves into prayers of thanksgiving when they learn that the ship the family had originally booked was torpedoed and sunk. The family is blessed once again on Ellis Island when seven-year-old Elda has a temper tantrum during the dreaded medical examination. Miraculously, the doctor allows the child to pass through with her family anyway. The lifelike illustrations invite a sweet intimacy with the reader by showing Elda's expressive face in nearly every picture. At the end, Elda Willitts illuminates the nature of oral history by beautifully explaining how family stories and personal memories become intertwined over the years. Teachers could use this picture book to inspire students to record the stories of their own family histories. 2000, Mondo, Ages 7 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Jackie Hechtkopf