Immigrant Kids

by Russell Freedman

America meant "freedom" to the immigrants of the early 1900s—but a freedom very different from what they expected.  Cities were crowded and jobs were scare.  Children had to work selling newspapers, delivering goods, and laboring sweatshops.  In this touching book, Newberry Medalist Russell Freedman offers a rare glimpse of what it meant to be a young newcomer to America.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Picture Books, Photography, American History, School

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Russell A. Freedman was an American biographer and the author of nearly 50 books for young people. He may be known best for winning the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography.

He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.

Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.

Reviews

[রাগিব হাসান · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting insight into the lives of the immigrant kids who arrived at and grew up in the United States 1890-1915 or so. The pictures are amazing. Though it would have been a bit more interesting if it included people who settled outside of New York. Nevertheless, an amazing look at history.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book written for children about children was very interesting. From 1880-1920, 23 million people immigrated from Europe to the US, many of them children. The book is divided into chapters: At Home, At School, At Work, At Play. Life for immigrant children was hard. Was it actually better than in the "old country"? I was spurred to read this because of my recent foray into genealogy. I have ancestors who came over from Ireland during this period, some of them children, some of them adults. While I have names and dates, this book gave me a little more insight into what life was really like for these immigrants and their children. It also helps explain why there are such discrepancies in the birth date records - mainly for work reasons. People lied about their ages so they could get employment.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: Read aloud to my son as part of his history curriculum.

Russell Freedman is an award winning author with an extensive backlist and I've always been confident when seeing his name on a book. This is an over-sized book, profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs. Sometimes the photograph will take up more page space than the text and many times a whole page is devoted to the photograph. The text concentrates on 1890s-1900s immigration, coming into Ellis Island and living in New York City. The children are the focus and each chapter takes a look at a specific aspect of their live work, play, school. The book is peppered here and there will actual quotes from people who were once the children this book speaks of.

The photographs are wonderful and the book can be enjoyed simply by looking through the pictures and reading the captions. It is the photos that make this book. Unfortunately, we were not very impressed with the text. It had no cohesiveness, told no one's story, just randomly gave out information, which was interesting per se, but neither of us had any connection with the author's style of imparting that information. Rather a disappointment from a book authored by Russell Freedman. I recommend getting this book out from the library and looking at the photographs as they are definitely worthwhile.

[Souaad Asar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman this is very interesting book with a very true story about what it meant to be a young newcomer to America. Many Americans doesn’t get how hard is it to be immigrant a hundred years ago. Their exposure to the significance of mass immigration to the growth of the United States is so limited that they have no real understanding of the critical role that it played in the development of the country. The author Uses images that explains the immigrant experience to the young person, describing their life aboard a crowded ship, passing through immigration at Ellis Island to most likely live in a crowded tenement in a large city. Their life was very hard, most adults worked for wages that were not even enough to support their family. Unfortunately the children have to work as soon as they were found an occupation. Very nice book all the young readers should read it. Maybe they will learn and appreciate whatever they have now.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immigration from the eyes of children and how they had to deal with their changing lives. They explain what it was like coming to America and what life was like at home, work, school, and play. The photographs of New York City immigrants during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s provide the reader with real life visuals to help place yourself in their situation. Students could use a venn diagram or other graphic organizer to compare and contrast children from this time period and today.

[Lea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informational text about immigrant kids in the late 1800's. Wonderful photos to use as conversation starters in a classroom

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was nicely put together, with a forward giving a quick synopsis of the history of photography and information about the two photographers that had supplied most of the photographs. Then it started with the trip and first sight of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island (known as Heartbreak Island to the anxious immigrants) and the ordeal there. Then a wait for the ferry and off to usually the big cities of the United States, particularly New York City. However, all the largest cities had populations where 4 out of 5 people were immigrants. A quick look at tenements and the unbelievable thrill of a single faucet that had water in the hall! It is the first time I had seen a photo of a faucet in a hall. Now, we would be horrified! Even then, the newer tenements had running water above the kitchen sink. Sinks btw were for dishes, laundry and bathing. A look at jobs and how kids would be hidden from the inspectors and play on the streets. Finally, a reminder of what became of these kids showing a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with children and grandchildren clustered around the couple. I love how each photography has the date, if known, photo caption, and name of the photographer. Freedman’s books always have soul and this one is quite pertinent for the anti immigrant era of today!

[Maria Alejandra Riaño Ordoñez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book offers original texts and contemporary photographs to build a chronicle that describes the life of immigrant children and their families, opening a new perspective of what freedom meant for early 1900s North America's newcomers at home, school, work, and play. It is great to read along with children.

[Mitzy Rodriguez]

An informational book that describes the physical difficulties that are endured among immigrants. The book talks about the children traveling from Europe to the States, and where they would be left when their parents were not available to care for them. The living conditions were very uncomfortable especially for those who were less fortunate, schools helped the youngsters become Americanized a lot faster, fourteen years old was the legal working age but many children under that age were found to be working because their living situation counted on working 10-12 hour shifts. Children will be children so when they found the time they would meet up and play street games or find anything they could do. There could be students that have traveled from a different area and this could allow them to discuss what the hardest part about leaving their old home was.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful resource for elementary or older students on the experiences of immigrant kids. The author has a lovely way of combining concise text with period photographs to give new insight into the time period. The author's decision to focus on the experiences of children makes it highly approachable for younger children and fires the imagination of older children. Empathetic children will need a guide to help them process the difficult aspects of the immigrant experience (war in home country, death of parent, anxiety of Ellie Island inspections, overcrowding, children working, children going hungry, etc.)

The only limitation is that it is primarily focused on New York City (though not entirely), yet since NYC was the historic entrance for most immigrants of the time, it is not altogether unfitting. If I had to pick one book on the topic, this would be it!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for so many reason. First, it can be used to talk about the early european immigrant experience (1880-1920). Secondly, the book contains so many photos that can be use in a lesson in themselves, such as writing prompts. My third reason for liking this book it is not overwhelming. Teachers for 3 and up can benefit from using this book in their class in different ways. My last,is for a more personal reason. I have a hard time when I come across a student, who believes that the word immigrant means someone who is Mexican. Exposure is key and this is just one more book that I think should be in your classroom libraries.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second grader has been studying immigration in America around the turn of the 20th century and so we have been reading this out loud. It is a beautiful book with haunting illustrations that show what life was like for these people in the land of "opportunity". The perfect blend of well-written text, including first person narratives, and documentary photography. NOthing could bring home this topic better!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Level: intermediate and up

This book is great for pairing up with a historical fiction book on immigration. It allows students to see what it was like for immigrant children in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They can compare the information provided in the book with the historical fiction book to determine what was true historically. The pictures add to the text in that they show the immigrant children coming through Ellis Island, at home, work, and school.

[Shareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book includes real life action photos of immigrants and how they spent their time in America. I like the book because instead of only showing the immigrant people as laborers they showed them as families. The book includes photos of children smiling, laughing, and playing baseball. It was good to see that these people who had gone threw so much were able to find joy and persevere through hardships.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Mainly, the pictures are what hooked me. I liked seeing a picture and than being able to read about it. I also liked how the book was split into sections so that it was easier to navigate through the text and the arrangement made it easy understand and follow. It gave a great dipiction of what life was like and as a child and it was interesting to read.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to incorporate into a 4th or 5th grade Social Studies lessons. Students can take a picture walk through this book. Since the subjects of the photographs are the same age as the students, they can write reflections of what they think the kids are thinking in each picture.

This is a great book for students because it is effortlessly moving. It really touches adults and children alike.

[Kelli Oliver George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read, I finished it in one sitting. I was drawn to this book because of the photographs - they were mostly of real families, real kids, real settings. Very few were in portrait studios. It was a very brief take on the experiences of immigrant children. This book was definitely meant FOR children, so the topics of child labor are discussed, but the disturbing details are left out.

[Shelly♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freedman's book is about eh Immigrant Experience in large cities during the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is full of classic photos of children of the era at work, at play, with their families and in their tenements. Great addition to any study of the 3rd component of the Great Immigration.

Read to both my 1st and 3rd grade aged children. The pictures said more to the younger student, while my older one enjoyed the text and the photos.

Awesome book.

[Allison Tubaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: informational

Grades: 3-6

Immigrant Kids by Russel Freedman is an interesting book about a day in the life of an immigrant child and the challenges they had to face and all the things they may have had to do in order to make a life in America. This book would be great for introducing immigrant or if you were discuss the time period of the 1900’s and what life may have been like back then. In order to find out what kind of life and immigrant child lived you’ll have to read the book.

[Caren Harrington]

This is an interesting chapter book about immigrant children in the nineteenth century. The book contains several heart wrenching and education photographs taken by Jacob A. Riis, an immigrant himself turned New York City newspaper reporter. The text and images capture and highlight the struggles of the nineteenth century immigrants living in the urban New York City setting.

[Leah Lemon]

This book is a dense childrens' book. It is heavy with informational facts, but they are written in a way that children can understand. It addresses the many aspects of a new immigrants life through the children of immigrants. It has a lot of great pictures, but most of all... it is about kids. This alnoe will make it easier for the students to relate to the book.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be great in a social studies unit on immigration in the early 1900s. This book shows pictures of real children in their daily activity. Even if you only used the pictures in this book your students would gain so much. You could also pick excerpts from the book. It does a great job of describing the different aspects of life for children who immigrated.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really cool book because it focuses on children and how they lived when they first immigrated to America. It has real photographs from those times and discusses the types of activities the kids liked to do such as play in the streets and play in the water from the fire hydrants. This would be a good book to use to discuss immigration and people of different cultures.

[Cecelia Beyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really great collection of some fairly well-known photos of tenement life and children predominantly in the 1890s. The text is what you would expect from a kids' non-fiction history book, but the photos are fascinating. I found it in the synagogue library, and it made a nice little quick Shabbat read after shul in the sunshine.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Russell Freedman's book on Abraham Lincoln, so I decided to read this one by him. It gave a good look into the life of immigrant children in the late 1800s/early 1900s in the big cities. However, it wasn't nearly as good as the Lincoln biography.

[Julie]

This book chronicles the experiences of immigrant children during the 19th and 20th centuries on coming over, life at home, at school, at work, and at play. Black and white photographs make the text more vivid. The author credits these children who helped to make the American Dream come true.

[Caitlin Mauragas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that explains to students what children went through as immigrants. It explains the horrible lives that they had. They worked in sweat shops, and died in factories. This is a good but sad book that would work well in a social studies classroom. The reality really hits home.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! I used this book during my PTLS for the kids to do research about immigratn kids. From the information shared in this book, they wrote newpaper articles, journal entries, and role played. They really enjoyed all the activites.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has alot of great pictures that portray children in the late 1800's and early 1900's. These pictures would make great discussion in a classroom. This book gives a good perspective of how children lived, grew up, and played during that time period in New York.

[Kira Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had very intense and controversial pictures of child labor. The photography was phenomenal and very touching. This book shows true, real accounts of what some immigrant children had to go through. This could relate to a social studies unit of immigration and human rights.