Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Voyage of the Mayflower
Illustrator: Peter McDonnell
Nonfiction Graphic Novel Series
For ages 8 to 10
Capstone Press, 2006 ISBN: 978-0736843713
In the 1600's people in England had to follow the teachings and the rites of the Church of England. If they did not they could be arrested and imprisoned. There were some people who did not agree with the teachings of the church and who tried to practice their own religion in secret. One such group were the Separatists. In 1609 one Separatist group went to Holland to live but they could not feel happy there and they decided instead that they would try to build a new life for themselves in the New World, in Virginia.
After much delay and many problems the Separatists, and some non-Separatist travelers who were called the Strangers, left England on a small ship called the Mayflower. It was September 6th, 1620. It was a hard journey. People were crowded together, the weather was fickle, people got sick, and the passengers began to wonder if they would ever get to America.
At long last, on November 19th the shores of the New World were sighted but it was many weeks before the travelers were able to get off the ship and begin the process of building homes for themselves.
This book provides young readers with an excellent account of the trials of the founders of the Plymouth colony. It focuses in particular on the difficulties they encountered before and during their famous journey across the Atlantic. One of the titles in the "Graphic Library" series, this book is perfectly suited for the reader who does not care for titles with lots of text and few illustrations.
