Author Description

What better way for young readers to truly understand another era than to spend a day in the life of another child? Like On a Medieval Day and On a Canadian Day before it, On an American Day Volume 1 uses nine extraordinary pieces of historical fiction -- covering American history from 1750-1899 -- to give young readers an intimate look at life in another place and time. On an American Day Volume 1 begins with the story of Patrick, an Irish-Catholic immigrant seeking relief from religious persecution in Pennsylvania in 1755. From there, readers meet more characters living through historic events like the Revolutionary and Civil wars, and the Johnstown flood; through civil rights milestones like the Emancipation Proclamation; and through national achievements like the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the opening of the Perkins School for the Blind. The book ends at the turn of the 20th century with the founding of Hull House in Chicago. Through these carefully researched and engaging stories, a complex and fascinating portrait of a nation emerges, told through a child's everyday life activities. Detailed backgrounder pages accompany each story, using facts, maps, photos, and illustrations to bring readers further into history.