Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl (Blue Ribbon Books

by Russ Kendall Kate Waters, Russ Kendall (Photographer)

Text and photographs of Plymouth Plantation follow a Pilgrim girl through a typical day as she milks the goats, cooks and serves meals, learns her letters, and adjusts to her new stepfather.

Genres: History, Thanksgiving, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, American History, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I read this ages ago but couldn’t remember the details. I like the examination of what the everyday details would have been like for the Plymouth colonists. It struck me as well researched and presented in a very plausible manner to make history “real” to kids.

One thing that really struck me was “Sarah” narrating about learning to read and looking forward to being able to read her mother’s letters from her mother’s relations back in England. Very interesting that Sarah doesn’t think of those people as having any connection to herself (they are, after all, her relatives too) but only as something tangently connected to her mother.

This may be reading a little too much into it – but to me it read as seeing the foundation being set for colonists seeing themselves as separate rather than an extension of England.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A photo-journal for the day-in-the-life of real historical figure Sarah Morton in a 1627, as she goes about her daily chores (many!), her small amounts of free time, her reading/writing lessons, and adjusting to having a new stepfather whom she hopes will love her. I enjoyed the historical grounding of the day-to-day activities in 1627, and it seemed written to be extremely accessible to children - to teach them, but also trying to make Sarah Morton relatable to them, despite the nearly 300 years between her and kids now. There is also a nice two-page spread situating the history, and telling about the girl who plays the role of Sarah Morton at the pilgrim reenactment village, and a two-page glossary for new terms.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

10-year-old me would have adored the pictures and the history of this.

Adult me appreciates it as well, but is also secretly wondering about the child labor laws as related to historical reenacting.

(And 20 Puritans just rolled over in their graves at the words "child labor laws.")

[Rykki · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any kid with an interest in early American life, this is a good read. It details the day of a colonial girl from sunup and waking to sundown and bed. There is even a section about the real Sarah Morton, Plimoth Plantation, and the girl acting as, or "interpreting" Sarah Morton in the pictures and at the living history site. It brought up concepts my daughter had never thought of. She, too, has a step-dad, and she'd never think of not mentioning missing her father because it would make her seem ungrateful. She couldn't imagine being worried about speaking out of turn. They do a lot of work back then, which many kids find surprising, just like girls often not being taught to read and write. I think my daughter even wants to try the recipe for cornbread they have in the book.

The whole story, while incredibly simple, is put together with some beautiful photographs and shows a wonderful glimpse at the daily life of early puritan Americans, straight down to what they ate and wore. There's reference to an early game played in America, played with a marble called a "knicker box". I'm sure many modern kids would be shocked by the simplicity of the toys and games, as well as how rarely they were used given the tasks that need to be done throughout the day in order for life to go on.

It's a wonderful resource and I would highly recommend it for anyone with a child interested in history as an addition to the basic facts, dates, and timelines. It adds more personal detail making the people of that time seem much more real and personal rather than a distant people we can't connect with today. I'd say the only better resource would be to go to the living historic village itself!

[Shanna Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is another in Kate Waters' historical-reenactment series. It follows the story of nine-year-old pilgrim Sarah Morton, based on a real girl at Plymouth Plantation who was nine in 1627. The story is set at a beautifully restored historical site, and the protagonist tells her story using language of the time. It's not a thrilling story, and some of the photography isn't as good as it might be. Still, the protagonist has a simple charm about her, and it's really fun to see photos of people acting out homelike scenes in their period dress. All the characters, while not chubby, have more flesh than you might expect from those who lived so near the Starving Time -- but you can't have everything. This book provides a visual experience of what a pilgrim's daily life might have been like, and as part of a Thanksgiving observance it provides a bit of realism to go with the turkey and nostalgia.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed several books similar to this one around Thanksgiving, but for some reason this one got lost in the mix. I noticed that it was coming due at our local library, and I wanted to read it before I had to return it.

By this time, our girls had had enough of this theme, so I wasn't able to share it with yhem, which is too bad because I liked the focus on a young girl's life.

The narrative is interesting and does not overwhelm the reader with too many details. And the photographs are terrific.

The additional information and glossary provided at the end of the book are helpful and augment the narrative nicely.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are using this for our unit study on Thanksgiving. My 9 year old really enjoyed it. My 7 year old seems to prefer fiction to non-fiction and wasn't loving this one. I found it fascinating. Loved all the photos and the included recipe for corn cakes (we will be trying it out in the next few days). It Gives a great representation of life as a pilgrim child. It also made my children realize they have it pretty easy in modern day.

[Marcus Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo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[Gabriella Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good 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good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is based on a fictional character but shows what life was like for a pilgrim girl. It illustrates and describes day-to-day life of Sarah Morton. How she helps her family by completing chores; making her bed, getting dressed, feeding the chickens, milking the animals, and etc.

I read this story during Thanksgiving time. It gave my students insight to a pilgrim's everyday life. How hardworking they were and how things are different from then. This is a good story to compare daily life from then and now.

I would pair this with the Thanksgiving unit. By reading this story and other pilgrim/Thanksgiving stories will give students more background information about how the pilgrims got to the new world, survived, and their daily routines.

"After dinner, it's time for my favorite task. I draw vinegar to polish the brass. If I am patient and rub the salt and vinegar slowly, the kettle will truly shine. Of a sudden, I hear a warning shot from the meeting house on the hill. It means a ship has been sighted!"

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Photographs and diary of daily pilgrim life are educational and interesting. But the underlying plot of a young girl trying to earn her step father's love is problematic. Though that's the way many children in blended families feel, since the entire book is in first person and at the end of the book she and her mother and step father are all happy because she has proved her worth by working hard and learning her lessons, the takeaway for many readers may be that "doing well" is how you receive love. I feel that this could have been written better if it was just the facts... If they wanted to make it more "real" or personal, the author could have focused on her friendship with Elizabeth, or missing the old country, or simply fear of the unknown. The step-father plot line would have been more suitable for a novel or chapter book where the nuances could be more appropriately explored.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book shows Plimoth Plantation and what life would have been like for a real girl in 1627. The character is based on a real girl and is played in the book by the girl who played her as an "interpreter" at the time at the physical Plimoth Plantation. So it was really interesting. I've been reading the books in my elementary library-- all of them. Some of them are very old. Some of them have old photography in them and I always wonder about the children in those books who would now be in their 30s-50s.

Also-- this book make me laugh out loud because the friend's name is Elizabeth Warren. :)

[Dawnesha F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a story about the day of the life of Sarah, who is a pilgrim girl. We learn after her fathers' death her mother remarried and she was worried that her new father did not like her. Throughout the day we see her performing chores like tilling the farm, making breakfast, and milking the goats. She has a close friend, Elizabeth who she tells her secrets too. The story has photography-like pictures that add to the realism of Sarah's story. The book also has a glossary to help readers with the terms that Sarah uses to describe her day. Good read.

[Kadie Speller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Morton traveled to American with her family four years ago to gain freedom from the Church of England. Her days are spent doing chores, playing with her friend, and having writing lessons. This book has great details of how the life of a pilgrim girl is. It was not all fun and games growing up in the 1600s on Plimoth Plantation. There are excellent examples of how life was for a pilgrim back then, along with realistic pictures of those times.

[Janyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Morton sailed to America with her family. They settled in Plimoth Plantation. She recently lost her father. She details her chores and daily life. She has a best friend that she does chores with. Sarah helps her mother every day doing chores. They makes sure that they have a nice meal prepared everyday. Sarah is pleased to see that her new father is proud of her. He is proud that she is learning.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful little photo picture book. It doesn’t talk down to the reader and instead feels like an infographic about the real life village (and museum grounds) that it is based off of! You essentially follow this recreation of a real child, Sarah Morton, as she wakes up, gets dressed, cooks food, takes care of the farm animals, talks with her friends, discloses her relatively harsh family life, her schooling, her love of her family, and how a new ship is set to arrive.

[Danna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written simple book about the day in the life of a Pilgrim girl named Sarah Morton. It has authentic photographs from Plimoth Plantation which give students a realistic view of what life might have been like during this time period. The students were able to compare and contrast their life today with life in the days of Sarah Morton.

[EmberJenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story isn't the best (it's OK), but I really like the photographs. I think they help to make history come alive for young learners. :-) I wish they would do a remake of this book with updated photography (it's an older book and you can tell), but it's still a winner and a worthwhile addition to studies about the Pilgrims.

[Melissa Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a simple book that my CT used to teach about pilgrims in the classroom, after reading the book the class made butter. The book is written like the author is Sarah Morton, where she tells about a day in the life of herself.

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so much fun and so entertaining, I learned a lot about what pilgrim girls do everyday. I know I was a bit old to read picture books but it just caught me as a quick read. It's good for kids who love American history and Pilgrim history.

[Amanda Malinaric · Rating 2 out of 5]

photo-journal for the day-in-the-life of real historical figure Sarah Morton in a 1627, as she goes about her daily chores. Basically no reference to God. Her parents seem harsh and don’t show love much to her, but probably realist to real life.
Not worth reading again for me.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way to learn about life on Plymouth Plantation. Great photos and interesting information about 1620.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and a great talk with Sarah about her life. It is just like going to Plimuuth Plantation like the whole family did yesterday.

[Wasif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Morton's life represents other pilgrim life. In her story, she worked what they use to do. Her work every day was the same.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was about a girl named Sarah. Her life is representing to many lives of pilgrim girls life back them. It was fun to read.

[Lexie Elder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade Level: 2nd-5th Grade
This book can be used to teach students about different religions and can be a great resource added to a class library. Students may be intrigued because of the plot taking place throughout the story. This book may also help students struggling with family issues, especially if there is a new step-parent who has recently came into their life. Even though I personally did not love this book, I can see the importance of it and the interest students may have in reading about someone unlike them or similar to them.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done!

[Jen Hagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used as a simple early American history reference. A lot of great insight and information for a quick read.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the living history photos.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Morton was my 9X great-grandmother. Her Aunt Alice was married to Gov. William Bradford. It was so cool to discover this book while I was working on my family tree.