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John Billington: Friend of Squanto
Book by Bulla, Clyde Robert
88 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1956
2 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Clyde Robert Bulla
108 books103 followersBorn to be a Writer
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 31, 2022
This book definitely showcases a different side to the Pilgrim story we always hear. Not all of the "pilgrims" were Christians coming over for religious freedom. The Pilgrims couldn't afford to pay for the entirety of the trip and so a few other families/people came with them to share the cost and start a new life for themselves.
John Billington belonged to such a family. And he's the cause for some interesting events that actually were journaled by Governor William Bradford. The musket that went off on the Mayflower, the boy that went missing and was brought back by Indians ... yup, that was John.
It's a short chapter book with illustrations and a good account to read together as a family! You might even get a good conversation going about what John should have done.
Ages: 6 - 11
Cleanliness: In real life, the Billington family seemed to be unruly, often causing trouble and even ending up in the stocks at least once according to history. This book paints John as we might imagine, coming from a family with such a reputation. He is sometimes whiny, portrayed as "curious," gets into some mischief, and at one point wants to run away. So while he might not be an entirely good example, it is probably fairly imagined and so therefore historical.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
John Billington belonged to such a family. And he's the cause for some interesting events that actually were journaled by Governor William Bradford. The musket that went off on the Mayflower, the boy that went missing and was brought back by Indians ... yup, that was John.
It's a short chapter book with illustrations and a good account to read together as a family! You might even get a good conversation going about what John should have done.
Ages: 6 - 11
Cleanliness: In real life, the Billington family seemed to be unruly, often causing trouble and even ending up in the stocks at least once according to history. This book paints John as we might imagine, coming from a family with such a reputation. He is sometimes whiny, portrayed as "curious," gets into some mischief, and at one point wants to run away. So while he might not be an entirely good example, it is probably fairly imagined and so therefore historical.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
November 30, 2018
Read this with the boys and they really enjoyed it and the adventures that occurred to John, on the Mayflower and in the New World with Squanto and the Indian Chiefs he met and befriended.
October 30, 2019
Excellent!
This book makes me want to research more about John Billington and Squanto.
Bulla was an excellent writer who could paint vivid story images in the minds of his readers whilst teaching them interesting facts.
This book makes me want to research more about John Billington and Squanto.
Bulla was an excellent writer who could paint vivid story images in the minds of his readers whilst teaching them interesting facts.
November 20, 2023
As a descendant of the Mayflower Billingtons, I thought it would be fun to get this book for my grandchildren. I’d previously read that Thanksgiving could have come about because of young John’s encounter with the Indians, so I wondered what this book’s story about Squanto would be.
Overall, the Billington boys were troublemakers. I also read that Father John Billington was the first to kill someone in the New World, and either Young John or his brother Francis was the first to have premarital sex in the new world. Not sure who would have documented that. Lol.
Overall, the Billington boys were troublemakers. I also read that Father John Billington was the first to kill someone in the New World, and either Young John or his brother Francis was the first to have premarital sex in the new world. Not sure who would have documented that. Lol.
January 26, 2021
Squanto lived in England a while and he was a friend and ambassador to the pilgrims. But did you know that A 10 year old boy, John Billington, lived with the Indians for a while and was a friend and ambassador to them? True story!!
November 5, 2024
I read this book a long time ago and have wanted to reread it. My last name is Billington and I have been curious about the Billington history for a long time. I really enjoyed reading this fictional account of someone who could be one of my forefathers here in the New World.
August 14, 2018
Sorry, I don't know exactly what bothers me about this, but it just feels wrong. Just, no, not of value to anyone these days.
July 17, 2022
Story of a young boy who came on the Mayflower.
November 15, 2024
Not my favorite Clyde Bulla book. Great for early readers and a good introduction to the pilgrims and Squanto. Very simple plot. Very simple sentences. No profanity. Not graphic.
November 29, 2013
I do not know if John Billington is a historical figure or not. This book is a short interesting historical novel for children about the Pilgrims' interactions with the Indians in America in the seventeenth century.
January 20, 2010
Interesting in a fabulous fifties kind of way. But John Billington Junior would have been 15-17 years old at the time and the text is just a bit too convenient.
August 20, 2012
I didn't like this book too much because it wasn't very funny.
February 4, 2013
I loved this book as a child and read it multiple times before I grew up. I still have a copy.
August 5, 2013
A nice look at colony life and Squanto from a child's perspective.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews