If You Were a Pioneer on the Prairies

Another great book from the If You series, this time about the Europeans setting in the American Prairie and their way of living. Illustrations are beautiful and accurate - really great information book.

I teach an intermediate level ESL class at the college level. This book is easily understood by my students. Not only do they learn something about the history of the U.S., but they can read this with minimal help from me -- gives them a real sense of accomplishment.

I love the If You Were books. This one is no exception. Excellent book.

Since this was part of my third grader's curriculum I decided to read it beforehand. Well, I was disappointed to say the least. The setup of the book is a bit dry, in my opinion. But much of it is interesting, so I dealt with the question and answer format and continued on. Then I came across the section talking about clothes "If you wore fancy clothes, people thought you were stuck-up" Huh? And the next page: "Women and girls weren't supposed to wear pants in those days, even when they went horseback riding. But some girls growing up on the prairie had different ideas". Come on, folks. Women wore skirts and dresses (including during horseback riding) for centuries... I don't think they were all poor pitiful women who were just so sad and demeaned because of it. And of course they have to paint the Indians as innocents who the government broke treaties with and stole their land, and the Indians fought to preserve their rights. Sorry, but it's not that simple nor one-sided as that! And of course, the government NEEDED to jump in and help people after disasters, and white people beat up the black people trying to settle in Kansas (yes, this is true, but what about all the good people helping them too?). I just felt like the book was way too negative. Yes, they may be technically true, but it's a truth that is slanted so that you only see one side of the coin, and not both. So keep this in mind if you are thinking about purchasing this book.Aside from all those examples, the book was good. It goes into great, interesting detail about the lives of the pioneers and had lots of little tidbits that even I didn't know about, or had forgotten about. So it's a good book, just wish it wasn't so darn negative!

I am new to my grade level and I am trying to enrich my next common core unit. By the time I got the chance to see what I needed it was time for the unit to start. I ordered my books and had them shipped as cheap as possible. The book was here within the next week. Thanks a bunch!