Next Spring an Oriole

Oriole #1

by Gloria Whelan

A pioneer adventure perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series!
 
On Libby Mitchell’s tenth birthday, she and her parents climb into a covered wagon and set off on a journey that takes them two months and a thousand miles. Their trip from Virginia to the deep woods of Michigan is hard, but it is exciting, too. And at its end lies their new home—a place that is rugged, wild, and full of promise.
 
History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Historical, School

64 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

About the author

Gloria Whelan is the best-selling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect; Angel on the Square and its companion, The Impossible Journey; Once on This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; Farewell to the Island; and Return to the Island. She lives with her husband, Joseph, in the woods of northern Michigan.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale about a family that moves from Virginia to Michigan to begin a new life. With their struggles and the winter coming ahead, they remind themselves that next spring an oriole will return and with it, hope anew.

Ages: 4 - 9

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[Vamp 🧛🏻‍♀️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best but it is defiantly a good book.It ended so suddenly though.I thought the girl was going to befriend the Indian.From the cover it seems like that,but from what the story says,the girl never sits at a pond with long hair,she rather sits at the pond with the Indian girl with short hair due to her having to cut it from getting lice.The story was great for young readers.If you have young kids,around the ages of 6 to 9, this book is amazing.But for me being older then those ages the book should have been more detailed to my perspective.Wonderful,amazing, book.Amazing author.Amazing talent.Just like I said such a sudden end and such a unexpected ending.

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[Anna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story set in Pioneer America, this is about an Eastern family (from Virginia) taking a covered wagon NW to the Michigan territory. Being a Michigander, this really was a fun story to read.

Better still? The edition that I have is MUCH older, and has *beautiful* pencil sketches all throughout. It's an interesting story of meeting an Indian family whose daughter has the measles, a woodman's family that invite them to stay in their lice-ridden beds, and the reception a surveyor would have in the deep woods of the mitten state.

Told from the viewpoint of Libby, the family's daughter, it's about making new friends, respecting the land, and living an adventure. VERY good story!

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't on my to-read list for pleasure. It's a fantastic read as an intro into chapter books. The characters and their story is easy to grasp, but there are a few sneaky, complex words thrown in; perfect for building vocabulary and working on context clues. As far as story goes: it's cute, it's sweet, it's informative enough for the setting and it's target audience.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. This is an introduction to historical fiction, a short story about a family traveling by covered wagon to settle in Michigan. It is based on a true story of a family of settlers who helped to heal a young Indian girl’s illness, then later the same Indian family bringing the settler family food to help them survive their first winter.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Next Spring an Oriole

I love this book. I've read books by Gloria Whelan before. The first one I read was, "Once on this Island." I love reading about the history of the great state of Michigan. It's beautiful. I'll be looking for more books by Gloria Whelan to read. I recommend this book to people of all ages - little kids and big kids!!!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It ended so suddenly and I expected her to have a better friendship with the native girl, but it was good and a great intro for kids to this time in history.

[Jenna Marie ~Scheming Scribbler~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago, when I was probably seven years old. I hardly remember any of the books I read back then, but I remember this book! It made a pleasant impression on me, like a lot of Gloria Whelan's writing!

[Sarah]

i think i read this series as a youth

I feel like I read this before

they keep calling her fawn in the back of the book but nobody called her that in the actual book

[Kasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. This is a lot like little house on the prairie but a lot more simple and easy. I read this with my daughter and it only took us an hour and a half or so. She really enjoyed reading it with me and she kept asking me if we could read more and more until we'd finished it. If I had to guess at the AR level I would say 3.5.

[Pam Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An early chapter book-- 2nd or 3rd grade level-- that tells the story of an early pioneer family moving to Michigan. The story's white heroine befriends a Potawatami girl, a friendship that is developed more in the follow-up books in this series.

A good introduction to the early 1800s in Michigan from a white perspective, but sensitive to the Native American presence.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story set in Michigan, especially for young girls. Really good.

[Alexis]

AR test completed.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this children's book so much, I ordered the follow-up book about Libby. This would be a great read aloud.

[Lonely Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it when I was ten, it was a cute story I loved the drawings.

[Rehan Saad]

it is historical fiction

[Sharla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed for Heartland school.

[Megan]

CURRICULUM: RR/Classics

[WSL Library]

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