Snowshoe Thompson

I Can Read: Level 3

by Nancy Smiler Levinson, Joan Sandin (Illustrator)

Christmas is coming, and Danny's father is away digging for gold... Danny wishes his dad would come home from Nevada for Christmas and writes him a letter to tell him so. When snow cuts off the mail until spring, only postman John Thompson can get through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to deliver his letter. This tale is based on the true story of a Scandinavian immigrant in the 1850s who braved the long and treacherous journey over the mountains on skis to deliver bags of mail that often weighed over 100 pounds. Snowshoe Thompson managed to become a legend of the gold rush days. "This is lively historical fiction with a nice sense of character and adventure, and the illustrations are packed with feeling and action." — Booklist Snowshoe Thompson is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level 3 includes many fun subjects kids love to read about on their own. Themes include friendship, adventure, historical fiction, and science. Level Three books are written for early independent readers. They include some challenging words and more complex themes and stories

Genres: Christmas, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Picture Books, Historical, 2nd Grade, American History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Nancy Smiler Levinson was born in 1938 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, she worked as a reporter, researcher, editor, and Head Start teacher before taking time to raise her two children. It was while reading to her kids when they were toddlers that Levinson first became interested in writing for young people, and in 1981 she published her first novel for young readers, World of Her Own. The first of many critically acclaimed biographies came in 1981, and since then Levinson has written a variety of well-received fiction and nonfiction for beginning readers as well as middle grade and young adult audiences.

Levinson has also contributed articles and stories to such publications as Seventeen magazine, Highlights for Children, Library Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. She has been a tutor for disabled children. She lives in California, where she enjoys reading and attending theater and symphonies.

Reviews

[gloriabluestocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely story for emerging readers. Simple doesn't have to mean cheesy or shallow, as this quality story proves.

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet and fun for the boys to read aloud to me ❤️❄️

[Brigham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Snowshoe Thompson move to America from Norway in the 1850's. He was one of the people to introduce skiing to America. I'm glad because I like to ski.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snowshoe Thompson (I can read Level 3) by Nancy Smiler Levinson, illustrator Joan Sandin Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of a young boy Danny O’ril who feels lonely because of the absence of his dear father. There are five chapters in the book. His father has gone to Sierra Nevada in search of Gold. Danny is residing with his Aunt Nan in Placerville. He wishes that his father should return back to Placerville to spend the Christmas with him. Danny does not want gold he wants to be with his father. First, he writes a letter and visits the Post Office, Placerville to find whether there is any letter from his father but there is no letter. Danny writes a letter to his father and goes to post it his Placerville Post Office. It is winter and the post office clerk responds that because of snow letters are not being delivered. On further enquiry, he finds that John Thomson is the only person who can cross the snow go to Nevada, deliver the letters and bring back the reply. Danny meets Johnson with his request. Johnson agrees. For this purpose, Johnson has to prepare ice skates. He cuts a branch from a tree and prepares skates. Then, he boils them in water so that the pieces can be molded. Johnson prepares unusual snow skies, takes the letters in a bag and starts for Nevada. It takes a week to reach there because the distance between the two cities is 90- miles. He has dried meat to eat. For water, he eats the snow. On reaching Nevada, Johnson delivers the letter and returns with the reply from Danny’s father. In the letter Danny’s father informs that he will return to celebrate Christmas with him. Danny questions Johnson that because of the snow, how his father will travel? Johnson replies that he will make these unusual snow shoes for him. In the note to the book, it has been informed that Johnson was a resident of Norway. In the year 1850, he arrived in Placerville, California in search of gold. Because of his snow shoes, he was called Snowshoe Thompson. He helped people who were stuck in the snow journey. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book. The Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the story.

[Connie T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This easy reader tells the story of a Norwegian immigrant who, using skis, forged a path through the Sierra Nevada Mountains upon which mail and people could travel. The people of Placerville, CA had never seen skis so they were skeptical but John Thompson did it! The story describes the making of skis and the author's note provides interesting details of John's journeys delivering mail.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

My students enjoyed it.

[Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned about some new history during the Gold Rush period from this book. Loved how the main character is using his culture and native country to solve a problem in his new home country.

[Beth Swahn]

Snowshoe Thomson (Jon Torsteinsson Rue) was a real person who really did deliver mail on skis.

[Cherie Durbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowshoe Thompson is an "I Can Read" book based on the true story of John Thompson, a Scandinavian immigrant who risked life and limb to deliver bags of mail on skis over the treacherous Sierra Nevada mountains during the years 1856-1876.

Danny, the boy in our story, misses his pa who is mining for gold in Nevada. Danny writes a letter to his pa asking him to come home to California for Christmas. Unfortunately, when Danny tries to deliver the letter he finds the only thing the mail clerk can deliver is bad news: No mail until spring due to snow. Danny wishes there were some way he could get his letter to his pa. John Thompson, new to town, steps forward-determined to get Danny's letter across the Sierra Nevada mountains. John sets out on a pair of skis to cross the snow-covered mountains but when five days pass and there's no sign of John the townspeople start to worry. Has John frozen to death?

Snowshoe Thompson is an engaging read that will leave readers eager to learn more about brave John Thompson.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out of the library for my special needs teenage sons and my 4 year old granddaughter because it was "An I Can Read Book". But to my surprise and joy this story is based on the true story of John Thompson a man that made the first skis and saved a town during a very bad snow storm that stopped trains and mail from coming through for months. But He was able to go back and forth with his skis. I had never heard of him, and thus because of the summary in the back I am now researching other books about him.

This story is written on a child's level about a little boy missing his Pa. He has written a letter for him telling him he misses him and hopes to see him for Christmas. But then word comes that mail, and supplies can't come through for a few months until the snow melts down. But a man says he can get the mail through and he proves it with some 'fancy showshoes' the village had never seen skis but Mr Thomspon knew how to make them from his home country Norway. He not only got the mail through but the little boys Pa home for Christmas.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting piece of historical fiction about a relatively obscure historical figure in postal history that also describes the beginning use of skis in America. Joe Thompson was from Norway and when it was impossible to cross the Sierra Mountains to deliver the mail one winter he decided to make himself a pair of skis to the delight of his fellow settlers. These strange snowshoes, thus earning Joe the nomenclature "Snowshoe Thompson" amazed the other folks and the idea caught on. A fairly simple story but one that shows how items from the "old country" came to be used in the Americas by settlers and an heroic tale as Joe comes through and saves the day. The illustrations are by the renowned Joan Sandin who has been illustrating since the seventies and has contributed to several books in the "I Can Read Books" series. She does wonderful period piece work and these add greatly to the story.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Snowshoe Thompson" is a true story based on a man, John Thompson, who was one of the many Scandinavian immigrants that introduced skis to America. This story portrays John's journeys to deliver mail, those in which he was able to rescue many men along the way. I think students would enjoy this book because it is an easy read, and they are able to learn some history at the same time. The author's note in the back of the book also helps the reader to understand the history behind this story.

[Jebbeh Fahnbulleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because Snowshoe Thompson always helps this boy name Danny by helping him send his mail to his dad and he always counts on him.When John Thompson was gone for five days, people said some things about him that he will hit a tree and bashed his brains out. Danny said we can count on him .This book is the best book ever.

[Donzell Fomond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because a man moved to a new place and he met a little boy name Danny. He had to deliver a letter to his dad and Snowshoe Thompson was there to do it. So Danny gave him the letter and the people told him it was too dangerous and no man had ever made it back before. He made skis and went over the mountain.

[papay sesay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Snowshoe Thompson. The book was about a boy named Danny who wanted his father to come back
from Nevada to California for Christmas and his father wasn't able to come so Danny wrote a letter. Snowshoe Thompson had
an idea of making skies so he would be able to glide through the snow. Danny gave the letter to Snowshoe Thompson to take to his father.

[Ana Lupu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowshoe Thompson is a very good book. The thing that I liked about that book was how they explained every detail about how Danny had written a letter for his papa about how much he missed him. I also like how John Thompson gave up his life in the really cold snow just so he could deliver a letter from Danny to his papa.

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great early reader that tells the story of John Thompson, a Scandinavian immigrant to California, in the 1,800's. Thompson introduced skis to his Northern, CA community when heavy snow prevented mail delivery over the Sierra Nevadas.

[Cws]

JEAR2-Lev

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because a little boy name Danny wanted his dad to come home for chrismas. I like this book because snow shoe thomspon help dany out.I like this book because it's a good book.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Early reader, but not that great of a story despite being based on true events. Ugly illustrations too.

[Wendy Mayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read for my 3rd grader. Great history lesson on postal service, a little gold rush and introduction to skiing in the U.S. Good illustrations also.

[Emily Patterson]

Lovely illustrations, great examples of onomatopoeia, and based on true events in the Sierra Nevadas.

[William Orellana santamaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that Danny lives in the mountains and never heard about skies is kind of weird...just saying.

[Nancy]

A good book for my little history buff.