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U.S. Landmark Books #2
The Landing of the Pilgrims
Will Bradford liked excitement. He was brave, too, and when a boy has a brave heart and a love of excitement, adventure seldom passes him by. When he grew up, Will became one of the Pilgrims and was their leading members for may years. The adverntures that befell Will and the Pilgrims on their journey across the stormy Atlantic, when they landed at Provincetown, and in the early days of their settlement at Plymouth, are told in this fine book.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1950
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
November 4, 2022
About Landmark Books
"Each is a book that brings to life a great event or personality in our nation's past. Each is designed to be rich, rewarding reading, capable of stirring the heart as well as the mind. Each is intended to arouse in the reader not only an interest in the course of history, but also an understanding of how the democracy that is our heritage was forged."
-From one of the dust jackets
The Landmark Books for children are a great way to learn history! I can't say enough about these, and it's no wonder that they are highly sought after in the homeschool community. From what I’ve researched, I’ve found these books to be very historically accurate. It’s history told in nicely narrated story-form – a win!
Ages: 10+
Pages: approx. 175-200
Illustrations: some
Price Range: $4 – $125 depending on HC or PB, and the title and its rarity.
Cleanliness: Mentions alcoholic drinks. Mentions naked Indians. "Lord" is said. "Bl**dy" is said.
**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!
"Each is a book that brings to life a great event or personality in our nation's past. Each is designed to be rich, rewarding reading, capable of stirring the heart as well as the mind. Each is intended to arouse in the reader not only an interest in the course of history, but also an understanding of how the democracy that is our heritage was forged."
-From one of the dust jackets
The Landmark Books for children are a great way to learn history! I can't say enough about these, and it's no wonder that they are highly sought after in the homeschool community. From what I’ve researched, I’ve found these books to be very historically accurate. It’s history told in nicely narrated story-form – a win!
Ages: 10+
Pages: approx. 175-200
Illustrations: some
Price Range: $4 – $125 depending on HC or PB, and the title and its rarity.
Cleanliness: Mentions alcoholic drinks. Mentions naked Indians. "Lord" is said. "Bl**dy" is said.
**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!
December 21, 2018
Not worth it guys
April 26, 2017
Read with my son for AO year 3. Very informative and still interesting.
June 30, 2023
I'm reliving my childhood by re-reading Landmark History books that I first read nearly 60 years ago. I remember spending time in a local library to actually read these books because the library had air conditioning and the house I grew up in did not. Who knew that I would one day marry a 13th generation descendant of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower?
November 9, 2009
Terrific understanding of the how and why the Separatists came to America. The influence of God in their decisions is very enlightening, to understand why they left Leyden. Found many captures in this book:
"So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed."
"Hard work was not a virtue, it was a necessity."
"It is not with us as with other men whom small things can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish themselves at home again."
I find it absolutely fascinating that the Mayflower Compact, written as a temporary document, lasted for over 70 years.
Truly amazing that they wrote the Mayflower Compact
"So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed."
"Hard work was not a virtue, it was a necessity."
"It is not with us as with other men whom small things can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish themselves at home again."
I find it absolutely fascinating that the Mayflower Compact, written as a temporary document, lasted for over 70 years.
Truly amazing that they wrote the Mayflower Compact
February 8, 2016
Read aloud to my son for a history lesson. We had been discussing colonies created in the new world and this book was a great edition to bring the colonies to life. It brought the separatist (pilgrims) to life along with the hardships and accomplishments.
November 27, 2022
A little dry for a read aloud, but I found it very interesting and enjoyable. It’s bittersweet to see how faithful the first settlers were to the Lord, verses America today.
July 2, 2024
I’m glad we are finished with this book. My 10 year old daughter gives this book a 4 ⭐️ rating. I’m actually surprised. I asked what she liked most about it and she liked that it was about Native Americans and what she liked least was all the killing. So, she remembers the killing descriptions the most. 😬 I thought it was a dry read.
May 23, 2017
It was an ok book. But it's history. At least it wasn't one of those book you don't want to read.
November 30, 2018
This is a great history book for early-ish readers. It’s not a beginning chapter book but it is attainable for elementary students. It is a living book so older kids would also enjoy it. Very well written, doesn’t talk down to kids.
February 11, 2023
Once a staple of junior high and high schools across America, these admittedly influential books have rather fallen out of favor over the last few decades, but they were used for generations to instruct and inspire young American students. They were written for ten to fifteen-year-olds, and offer a good introduction to a number of topics, from ancient (Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Xenophon, Cleopatra, and Jesus of Nazareth) to modern, and everything in between. I believe there were about 120 in this series published originally, and almost all were written in the 1950s and 60s, typically from the perspective of the individuals who experienced the events described. They are now primarily relied upon by homeschoolers, with whom they remain rather popular.
This offering, the second in the series, published in 1950, tells the story of the "pilgrims," originally called the Separatists, who fled England amidst increasing persecution for their rejection of the state Church of England (today called the Anglican denomination), first to Holland, now the Netherlands, in 1608, where they became rather prosperous, at least initially. Amidst renewed hostilities, however, they decided to sail to the New World in 1620, with a contract to form a new colony. The book essentially tells the story of the Mayflower passengers, and all the difficulties they faced in the struggle for survival in those early years.
The short book humanizes the account by framing it as seen through the eyes of William Bradford, whom we meet as a teenage boy from the small village of Scrooby, in southern England, who becomes the eventual governor of the Plymouth colony. Bradford began his journey by attending sermons of reformist preachers, eventually taking up their interpretation of scripture, which lead him on a great adventure, one which also entailed great sacrifice.
Although it admittedly offers a rather one-sided telling of the founding of the Plymouth colony, a story school children of previous generations were far more familiar with (but certainly not through the eyes of the people who already inhabited the area), it does recount the great difficulties the settlers (although many would consider them invaders) encountered, which included negotiating - literally - some unexpected political challenges: some of the indigenous tribes were more tolerant of the settlers' presence, but others, who had experienced devastating losses due to European incursions elsewhere, sought to either drive them out of the area or kill them. Against nearly all odds, however, which included disease, shipwreck, accident (which took the life of Bradford's own wife, who drowned after falling overboard after a severe storm at sea) and starvation, the colony prospered, serving as a base of operations for an increasing number of settlers arriving each year upon the shores of a nascent America.
For kids in modern times, I expect that reading even this short book will take some extra work: most will be highly unfamiliar with some of the terminology and concepts which may have been in more popular usage in previous generations (i.e., post riders, manor house, and its significance - in just the first few pages: what's a steward? A "courier," let alone a "courier's horn?" "The Low Countries?" "Armada of King Philip," "Sir Francis Drake," "fire ships," "Spanish Main," mentioned in the Pirates of the Caribbean? etc.) For a children's book, it assumes an impressive and, for some, perhaps an intimidating degree of knowledge, which, of course, provides an opportunity for both a vocabulary and history - and perhaps, research - lesson, if it involves instructing students how to look up words and terms they don't yet understand.
On a personal note, as a former instructor: it's also a stark reminder, for me, at least, how much more sophisticated students were at that age, at that time, despite no or little TV, as this and many other Landmark books were written immediately post-war, demonstrating to me how far better read most school-age children were than today. In short: this is going to be tough going for teenagers who don't know what continent they're on or how or how many dimes make up a dollar.
Another observation: one of the reasons why these books have fallen out of favor, and admittedly so, is that the language is quite dated, and not infrequently, offensive: (i.e., use of term "redmen," and a term for indigenous women I won't repeat here which is so problematic that locations, even entire towns, with the name are being changed throughout the US), so if someone wishes to use them, it will require knowledge on the part of the teacher to appropriately explain to children what's offensive and problematic. It doesn't take much intellect to discern the rather demeaning statements such as the one which follows here, however: "the amiable visitors [the "Indians"] interrupted work, wasted time, became pests and nuisances. Squanto alone had made himself useful." That's a difficult and even insulting case to try to make, considering that more than one man was responsible for essentially ensuring the colony's survival.
Each of these has an overarching lesson, but the most telling statement, and perhaps lesson, to me, considering the time period in which it was written, is as follows:
"It was decided that each family should keep the crop it raised upon its allotted land. Each little farm would be a free enterprise. There would be no more common store... Each would work for himself. The result was wonderful. Each family, even the women and children, worked in the fields daily from dawn until dark. Every inch of each field was planted and tended. There had never been such a planting...The lean and ragged colonist tended their greening fields with a new pride and energy. The laziness and indifference of "communitie" had vanished like the sea mist before the sun." In short, the story of life on earth is self-interest: people work hardest and best when they're working for themselves and not for some abstract sense of "community." Considering the period in which it was written, is this a less-than-veiled dig at Soviet-style communism, with its disastrous agricultural collectives, built on much the same premise? Let the reader use discernment.
I will try to include some additional information about these, as there was an entire article I read some time back about this entire series, which may help those who choose to employ these still-capable books as a part of their curriculum. In my opinion, they shouldn't just be read and taken at face value. However, they can offer not only information, but also a lesson on textual analysis and deconstruction, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate how our understanding of various subjects changes over time, and, perhaps that's where their real value lies.
This offering, the second in the series, published in 1950, tells the story of the "pilgrims," originally called the Separatists, who fled England amidst increasing persecution for their rejection of the state Church of England (today called the Anglican denomination), first to Holland, now the Netherlands, in 1608, where they became rather prosperous, at least initially. Amidst renewed hostilities, however, they decided to sail to the New World in 1620, with a contract to form a new colony. The book essentially tells the story of the Mayflower passengers, and all the difficulties they faced in the struggle for survival in those early years.
The short book humanizes the account by framing it as seen through the eyes of William Bradford, whom we meet as a teenage boy from the small village of Scrooby, in southern England, who becomes the eventual governor of the Plymouth colony. Bradford began his journey by attending sermons of reformist preachers, eventually taking up their interpretation of scripture, which lead him on a great adventure, one which also entailed great sacrifice.
Although it admittedly offers a rather one-sided telling of the founding of the Plymouth colony, a story school children of previous generations were far more familiar with (but certainly not through the eyes of the people who already inhabited the area), it does recount the great difficulties the settlers (although many would consider them invaders) encountered, which included negotiating - literally - some unexpected political challenges: some of the indigenous tribes were more tolerant of the settlers' presence, but others, who had experienced devastating losses due to European incursions elsewhere, sought to either drive them out of the area or kill them. Against nearly all odds, however, which included disease, shipwreck, accident (which took the life of Bradford's own wife, who drowned after falling overboard after a severe storm at sea) and starvation, the colony prospered, serving as a base of operations for an increasing number of settlers arriving each year upon the shores of a nascent America.
For kids in modern times, I expect that reading even this short book will take some extra work: most will be highly unfamiliar with some of the terminology and concepts which may have been in more popular usage in previous generations (i.e., post riders, manor house, and its significance - in just the first few pages: what's a steward? A "courier," let alone a "courier's horn?" "The Low Countries?" "Armada of King Philip," "Sir Francis Drake," "fire ships," "Spanish Main," mentioned in the Pirates of the Caribbean? etc.) For a children's book, it assumes an impressive and, for some, perhaps an intimidating degree of knowledge, which, of course, provides an opportunity for both a vocabulary and history - and perhaps, research - lesson, if it involves instructing students how to look up words and terms they don't yet understand.
On a personal note, as a former instructor: it's also a stark reminder, for me, at least, how much more sophisticated students were at that age, at that time, despite no or little TV, as this and many other Landmark books were written immediately post-war, demonstrating to me how far better read most school-age children were than today. In short: this is going to be tough going for teenagers who don't know what continent they're on or how or how many dimes make up a dollar.
Another observation: one of the reasons why these books have fallen out of favor, and admittedly so, is that the language is quite dated, and not infrequently, offensive: (i.e., use of term "redmen," and a term for indigenous women I won't repeat here which is so problematic that locations, even entire towns, with the name are being changed throughout the US), so if someone wishes to use them, it will require knowledge on the part of the teacher to appropriately explain to children what's offensive and problematic. It doesn't take much intellect to discern the rather demeaning statements such as the one which follows here, however: "the amiable visitors [the "Indians"] interrupted work, wasted time, became pests and nuisances. Squanto alone had made himself useful." That's a difficult and even insulting case to try to make, considering that more than one man was responsible for essentially ensuring the colony's survival.
Each of these has an overarching lesson, but the most telling statement, and perhaps lesson, to me, considering the time period in which it was written, is as follows:
"It was decided that each family should keep the crop it raised upon its allotted land. Each little farm would be a free enterprise. There would be no more common store... Each would work for himself. The result was wonderful. Each family, even the women and children, worked in the fields daily from dawn until dark. Every inch of each field was planted and tended. There had never been such a planting...The lean and ragged colonist tended their greening fields with a new pride and energy. The laziness and indifference of "communitie" had vanished like the sea mist before the sun." In short, the story of life on earth is self-interest: people work hardest and best when they're working for themselves and not for some abstract sense of "community." Considering the period in which it was written, is this a less-than-veiled dig at Soviet-style communism, with its disastrous agricultural collectives, built on much the same premise? Let the reader use discernment.
I will try to include some additional information about these, as there was an entire article I read some time back about this entire series, which may help those who choose to employ these still-capable books as a part of their curriculum. In my opinion, they shouldn't just be read and taken at face value. However, they can offer not only information, but also a lesson on textual analysis and deconstruction, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate how our understanding of various subjects changes over time, and, perhaps that's where their real value lies.
June 28, 2021
You know, this is a modest little book, but I learned exponentially more about the Pilgrims from reading it than I ever did in public school. It gets bonus points for being the sort of story that my eight-year-old boy would regularly request to hear. It is always a delight when your child enjoys real stories as much as he would the fantasies, especially because real life holds some of the world's most incredible stories! I recommend this for homeschool but also as a quick read for adults who would like to have a more robust picture of this point in history.
November 20, 2024
The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty was not the most interesting book I
have read due to the misspelling and confusion of the story. William Bradford seemed to
be the main character in the beginning of the story but then wasn’t brought up much, later
on. It gave a good picture of some of their problems with food, shelter, and their fights
with the Indians. Although, I found that the writing was quite poor.
have read due to the misspelling and confusion of the story. William Bradford seemed to
be the main character in the beginning of the story but then wasn’t brought up much, later
on. It gave a good picture of some of their problems with food, shelter, and their fights
with the Indians. Although, I found that the writing was quite poor.
May 17, 2019
MD and CN gave it five stars MK and I gave it four stars. I love nonfiction books, but I always am curious how accurate they are if nothing is sited. We definitely got a good perspective of how difficult it was for the pilgrims to begin life in a new, unsettled, country.
August 29, 2018
Overall, this book was good. I liked Captain Standish, but I liked Squanto a lot better.
December 3, 2014
They don't write like they did in 1950 anymore. (sigh) And they certainly don't write like they did in 1604, which is probably a good thing. This book makes me want to learn more about the first men and women to come to America. I want to hear more personal stories, and be inspired by their determination and faith. In several places it shares journal entries from those that were there. I would much rather read Landmark Books than Rush Limbaugh's attempt to teach the same material!
Update. Just read this with my older kids. They did not enjoy it as much as I did. They said it was a bit boring...I don't know how you can be bored with men and women of God risking their lives for a new land...but they managed. It does have a lot of original quotes from sources in it.
Update. Just read this with my older kids. They did not enjoy it as much as I did. They said it was a bit boring...I don't know how you can be bored with men and women of God risking their lives for a new land...but they managed. It does have a lot of original quotes from sources in it.
January 10, 2018
Excellent book on the Puritan pilgrims and the first few years of their Plymouth Plantation. Very high literary value, but sometimes hard for a younger student (11) to understand. Wish it had included a map or other art to bring some of the descriptions to life a little better. Really loved hearing the faithfulness of the pilgrims and their devotion to and trust in God. Makes me want to find more of their writings from that time. So inspiring.
July 31, 2019
Quick and easy account of the first couple years spent at Plymouth Rock. Written in the 50s, it contains references to "red men" "savages" and the like, but also doesn't shirk away from descriptions of the settlers desecrating native American Graves and stealing their food. Also includes actual quotations from journals. Would love to see source information, but there is no bibliography included.
I'm sure there is a modern counterpart to this book that isn't so offensive.
I'm sure there is a modern counterpart to this book that isn't so offensive.
September 19, 2012
Written at about a third grade level but was recommended for Junior Highers and Freshmen. Also it was a story about a certain young man on the Mayflower but rarely talked about him. It wasn't engaging enough for a fictional novel and not informative enough for a non-fiction. I recommend it for elementary school kids who want a very basic introduction to the landing of the Pilgrims.
October 27, 2023
An excellent history of the Pilgrims for children and adults. These Landmark series are a wonderful resource. They are Informative, well-written, and bring history to life (my daughter cried when Squanto died).
January 28, 2009
I learned a lot about what happened when the pilgrims came over and what trials they had to go through, it is a good book.
January 28, 2009
I read this book and learned a lot about the pilgrims and the Indians that I didn't know.
March 29, 2016
A decent primer about the Pilgrims, spanning 1607-1623. Good for grades 4-8.
December 17, 2016
This is not making my kids love history or think that history is anything but stories of boring dead people. Abandoning this and searching for something that isn't such a snoozefest!
January 18, 2022
This book starts by introducing William Brewster and Will Bradford, explains very clearly why they felt they had to leave England, and makes no bones about the fact that it was because of their faith and their desire to live according to the Holy Scriptures. In England in the early 1600s, everyone was forced to join the Church of England. Young William Bradford and his friends believed they had every right to belong to whichever church they wanted. In the name of religious freedom, they fled to Leiden in Holland, then sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620 to start a new life, and hoping to establish a new colony. After a tumultuous sea journey, they arrive in Plymouth, Massachusetts (Patuxet). James Daugherty draws on the Pilgrims’ journals to give a fresh and moving account of their life and traditions, their quest for religious freedom, and the founding of one of the most beloved holidays; Thanksgiving. This is a lovely, easy-readable, reverent, well-written, and accurate story. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
December 8, 2024
After having read Nathaniel Philbrick's The Mayflower & the Pilgrims' New World, I wasn't expecting this book to give me new information. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn several things about the Pilgrim story. This book definitely makes more reference to the religious nature of the venture but doesn't gloss over how the settlers negatively interacted with the natives at times. This wasn't entirely due to the original Pilgrims' fault, as their investors sent multiple groups of difficult people for them to house and feed.
The only other book I'd read by James Daugherty was Andy and the Lion, a picture book, so I wasn't aware that he wrote non-fiction as well. I read it aloud to my own children, who were pretty interested, and my wife became interested as she heard me reading. This book was well worth the quick read and is a worthy volume for your Landmark collection.
The only other book I'd read by James Daugherty was Andy and the Lion, a picture book, so I wasn't aware that he wrote non-fiction as well. I read it aloud to my own children, who were pretty interested, and my wife became interested as she heard me reading. This book was well worth the quick read and is a worthy volume for your Landmark collection.
February 5, 2019
Read aloud with son (10) for our history lessons. Read slowly over a month. Son like this well enough. Maybe not his favorite, but there were parts where he was very animated when discussing them.
I enjoyed the book very much. The book gives a feeling for how the Pilgrims survived and flourished and there were many parts of the Pilgrims’ story that I didn’t know or had been told wrong that this book explained well.
Some parts of the narrative were a little beyond my son’s understanding and seemed to sacrifice clarity for Old English quotes and text. I understand the author’s choice, but at times it disrupted the enjoyment my son was experiencing which disappointed me as I wanted him to have a good experience with this book.
I enjoyed the book very much. The book gives a feeling for how the Pilgrims survived and flourished and there were many parts of the Pilgrims’ story that I didn’t know or had been told wrong that this book explained well.
Some parts of the narrative were a little beyond my son’s understanding and seemed to sacrifice clarity for Old English quotes and text. I understand the author’s choice, but at times it disrupted the enjoyment my son was experiencing which disappointed me as I wanted him to have a good experience with this book.
November 5, 2020
As a youth book, this was a fast read. It used quotes taken directly from original diaries and manuscripts. The whole book was written based on those original documents, which is awesome because the info is based on truth. It's not necessarily as much a story as a clip of Pilgrim histories. But it wasn't boring. Quite informative with interesting stories, many of which I had never heard before. It starts with the group that leaves England for Holland in search of religious freedom, and then realize that the only way to get it is to be in their own land. I highly recommend this book, especially for reading at Thanksgiving time! (My version didn't have pictures, but I understand that some other versions have great pictures in them.)
April 1, 2020
The problem with writing historical fiction about famous events is that you actually have to be true to history. I'm sure I'd of enjoyed this far more, for example, if the characters' personalities were expanded upon, but I suppose there's something ethically wrong about depicting someone as a jerk simply for the sake of having a jerk in the story. Certainly, I would be mad if someone did it to me.
As for the plot, well, there wasn't an overarching one, but the pilgrim's adventures were interesting all the same.
So, I would have wanted more personality and backstory in the characters, but I suppose I really can't blame the author.
As for the plot, well, there wasn't an overarching one, but the pilgrim's adventures were interesting all the same.
So, I would have wanted more personality and backstory in the characters, but I suppose I really can't blame the author.
March 4, 2023
I read this book out loud to my 11 year old for school. I personally enjoyed reading more indepth about the landing of the Pilgrims in the new world. It was intriguing to read about the interactions of the Pilgrims with the Native Americans during those first few years after they landed. It helped give me a better picture and understanding of that part of history. The only part I didn't care for was when the author quoted the pilgrims diary or notes. I felt the abrupt change in grammar, vocabulary and style took away from the flow of the book, rather than add to it. I would have preferred if the author merely summarized and paraphrased to help the narrative flow of his story.
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