January 1, 2008
Hanna is excited to be going to America where, as her father promises, "There are streets of gold." The whole family is in for a disappointment, though; instead of prosperity, they're faced with poverty and dejection. It's not until Papa starts a trash collection business that the family's misfortunes begin to turn. Stiff, melodramatic paintings accompany the uninspired rags-to-riches story.
(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
December 1, 2007
Through the eyes of a child, this glowing picture book, part of the Tales of Young America series, relates afamiliar story of European immigration, struggle, hard work, and success. In the old country Papa promises Hanna and her little brothers, Manny and Morris, that the streets of Americawill bepaved with gold. But whenthe family arrives, times are hard. Papa cannot find work, and Hanna is angry that he lied. As it turns out, they do find gold in the streets: collecting, sorting, and sellingjunk becomes a thriving family business. The story is a little too generic, and though the names indicate that the immigrants are Jewish, it's never clear where they come from or when they actually arrive.The double-page spreads do showold-fashioned cars and trolleys in the background, and they includeeffective scenes of the family?hopeful, hard at work, angry, and blissful. In one unforgettable picture, Papa is walking the children to school in the snow, trying to keep them warm under his coat.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)
April 1, 2008
K-Gr 2-A family leaves an unspecified "old country" to make their way in America. The clothing and automobile styles appear to root the story in the 1930s or 1940s, although the exact time period is not specified. In their new home, the father questions his decision to uproot his family. A chance discovery of returnable bottles on the street starts him on a new career as a junk man. His sons and daughter help him collect glass, metal, paper, rags, and other trash, and the family gradually builds a profitable business. Although sweet, the story is oversimplified. The home they leave looks clean and prosperous. The family members wear nice clothing and shoes; the house has furniture, books, and paintings. Their stated reason for leaving is economic, but the father cannot teach in America since he does not speak English. Religious or political persecution is not mentioned. The illustrations are done in a warm, glowing style that amplifies the family's love and closeness. In this idealized setting, being the junk man's daughter doesn't appear to be so bad, even when wealthier classmates make fun of her. The story does have value, however, for teaching economic lessons. The family begins by collecting on foot; soon they are able to buy a wagon, then later a used truck. As they invest their profits, they are able to make their company grow exponentially. Nostalgically evocative, this title might be useful for immigration or economic units."Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.