"Watch the Stars Come Out" by Riki Levinson

Today, I read Riki Levinson's simple tale of immigration to my third graders as part of an official launch to our exploration of Historical Fiction.  We searched Diane Goode's comforting illustrations for evidence of historical differences and discussed the family's lack of hot water and variations in transportation and clothing between this time period and our own.  Most of all, I tried to engage the students in the trials and treasures of a young girl's entry to the United States.

I have always enjoyed this lovely story of immigration and have found it to be an effective and affecting read-aloud.  As an ardent fan of Diane Goode, I was first attracted to the book for its warm and emotive illustrations.  Soon I was hooked by Levinson's lyrical tone and deep emotions of reunion and hope.  This book became a favorite bedtime story for my children.  Told from a young girl's point of view, "Watch the Stars Come Out"  provides comforting bookend images of children happy and safe with adults watching the stars come out in the darkening nighttime sky.  In the pages in between, we learn of the twenty-three day journey of a young girl and her brother from Europe to New York around the turn of the last century.  We feel the hardships of the passage, share the excitement of spotting the Statue of Liberty, catch a glimpse of Ellis Island health inspections, and finally feel the comfort of reunion with long separated parents.  My students were hooked.  Shortly after I read the penultimate page - "I watched the stars come out - one, two, three"  - I ended the story, closed the book and ... my students broke into applause!   Now, that's rewarding feedback on a read-aloud.  Wonderful!