Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story
By Leslea Newman
The Story
A young girl is separated from her mother at the last moment and must sail to America alone, only to discover the address for her family in New York has smudged into illegible ink.
Why It's Special
For the child who feels the weight of a scary new place, this book sits with a girl facing the biggest journey of her life without the one person she counted on.
- Big idea: Courage often means moving forward even when the plan falls apart.
- Vibes: Tender, quietly suspenseful, historical.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are curious about family history and where they came from
- respond well to stories about bravery in scary situations
- are working on problem-solving when things don't go as planned
- enjoy historical stories grounded in real experience
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think Gittel felt when she realized the address had smudged and become impossible to read?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Gittel felt sailing to America without her mother beside her?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever had to do something brave on your own, without a grown-up right there with you?
- Imagination: If you were Gittel and lost the address, what would you do to try to find your family?
- History connection: This story is based on the author's own grandmother's journey to America — what questions would you want to ask about your own family's history?
