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Pedro's Pan: A Gold Rush Story
A New York Public Library "Best Books for Kids 2019" choice in nonfiction history.
Discover the whimsical tale of friendship between one man and his gold pan, and their journey in the wake of the Gold Rush.
Pedro and his pan go on an exciting adventure together--to strike gold! They hike mountains, whack through bushes, and wade through streams as they sift through dirt and gravel in search of the hidden nuggets. But as time goes by without any success, Pan begins to worry that he is broken. Will he and Pedro ever find what they're looking for? Inspired by the true story of Felix Pedro, a prospector who launched one of the richest gold rushes in Alaska's history, Pedro's Pan offers a glimpse into American history as well as educates how gold panning works in a fun and exciting way.
Discover the whimsical tale of friendship between one man and his gold pan, and their journey in the wake of the Gold Rush.
Pedro and his pan go on an exciting adventure together--to strike gold! They hike mountains, whack through bushes, and wade through streams as they sift through dirt and gravel in search of the hidden nuggets. But as time goes by without any success, Pan begins to worry that he is broken. Will he and Pedro ever find what they're looking for? Inspired by the true story of Felix Pedro, a prospector who launched one of the richest gold rushes in Alaska's history, Pedro's Pan offers a glimpse into American history as well as educates how gold panning works in a fun and exciting way.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 19, 2019
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 12, 2021
Social Studies: Picture Book Alaskan Gold Rush, Gold Panning, Alaskan Wildlife
Lasley, Matthew. Pedro’s Pan: A Gold Rush Story Illus. by Souva, Jacob. AK: Alaska Northwest Books, 2019. 32pp. Primary.
This charming picture book accurately tells the tale of a real prospector named Felix Pedro, through the eyes of his adorable gold pan. With whimsical illustrations, easy-to-read simple text, and a flowing narrative, children of all ages will love learning interesting facts about the Alaskan Gold Rush and how to pan for gold in this delightful thorough story.
AK: Alaskan Gold Rush, Gold Panning, Prospecting
Activity: Pair this book with a gold panning activity. Place some little pieces of gold (or fool’s gold) into a tray of sand and water and have children use techniques taught in this book to try and pan for it like Pedro.
Lasley, Matthew. Pedro’s Pan: A Gold Rush Story Illus. by Souva, Jacob. AK: Alaska Northwest Books, 2019. 32pp. Primary.
This charming picture book accurately tells the tale of a real prospector named Felix Pedro, through the eyes of his adorable gold pan. With whimsical illustrations, easy-to-read simple text, and a flowing narrative, children of all ages will love learning interesting facts about the Alaskan Gold Rush and how to pan for gold in this delightful thorough story.
AK: Alaskan Gold Rush, Gold Panning, Prospecting
Activity: Pair this book with a gold panning activity. Place some little pieces of gold (or fool’s gold) into a tray of sand and water and have children use techniques taught in this book to try and pan for it like Pedro.
May 5, 2021
What a delightfully fun way to learn about panning for gold! Told in first "person" through the eyes of a Gold Pan, Pedro's Pan is an entertaining introduction into this unique slice of history. Along with Jacob Souva and his playful illustrations, Matthew Lasley achieved the perfect balance of whimsy and science. Whether showcasing the day-to-day process of panning ("With each empty pan, I see the disappointment on Pedro's face") or offering cool factoids about gold in the accompanying backmatter (Three Olympic-sized swimming pools would hold all the gold ever mined), Lasley and Souva have crafted a wonderful book for young readers looking for an historical taste of the old west.
April 6, 2025
A gold rush story told from the delightful point of view of the pan. Based on a real gold prospector in Alaska, Pedro looks and looks for gold, panning silt in the cold rivers of Alaska. Will he ever find it? So many disappointments, but, as ever, three times is the charm. Terrific illustrations by Jacob Souva. Back matter tells of the real prospector, how to pan for gold, and neat facts about gold.
March 12, 2022
One of my kiddos wanted a miner’s perspective on western expansion. So I found this gem. It has a central Italian immigrant who travels to Alaska in search of gold and finds it after years of searching. Pedro talks to his mining pan (and the Pan talks back). My kids really enjoyed it. It was a fun and easy story to compare and contrast fact vs fiction. A prospector’s perspective!
November 10, 2019
This was the perfect introduction to the Gold Rush for my 5-year-old. Not so information-dense that it clouds the story, but with a substantial end notes section in case you need to know more. A quick read with actual content, and quality illustrations. This one was a win for us!
August 8, 2019
The illustrations are gorgeous, and the text is inviting and informative.
December 2, 2019
Loved that it was from the POV of the pan!
June 27, 2023
Super cute and perfect for the younger crowd learning early American history (and the gold rush).
June 23, 2019
Such a cute and inventive way about sharing some of the trials of prospecting. I love how this story is told from the point of view of the pan.
July 23, 2019
An interesting introduction to prospecting for kids. My child liked the artwork. Having the story be narrated by the pan took some getting used to (my kid was confused by this).
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews