Review of
…
If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, by Ann McGovern ISBN
0590451618
Five out of five stars
This book
presents the journey of the pilgrims to the New World in a manner that matched
their condition, unwashed. They spent over 60 days in tight quarters eating
poor food and wearing the same clothes. The only water available for washing
was sea water and since they were traveling in the North Atlantic late in the
year, the water would have been very cold.
The most
significant point made concerns the Native Americans that they encountered when
they arrived. Often lost in the historical accounts is the fact that were it
not for the aid of the inhabitants, the colony that was the forerunner of their
near extinction could not have survived without the help of the Native
Americans, specifically Squanto and Chief Massasoit. The Native Americans
taught the colonists how to grow the native crops and hunt the abundant game. Furthermore,
the Native Americans did not hunt the colonists to extinction, something they
could easily have done.
A quality
rendition of the difficulties encountered by the migratory group we now call
the Pilgrims; this book is a worthy addition to all libraries at the elementary
school level.
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