Tattered Sails

by Dan Andreasen (Illustrator), Verla Kay

With dreams of a better life for themselves, Thomas, Edward, Mary Jane, and their parents say goodbye to the only home they have ever known. They leave crowded, dirty London behind for good when they board a ship that promises to take them across the wide Atlantic Ocean to the colonies. The long, treacherous journey is filled with uncertainty, and readers will cheer when this brave family takes their first wobbly steps in the New World.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Thanksgiving, Poetry, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2001

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the old-fashioned charm the illustrations hold and the poem was delightful. Note: These pilgrims moved to New England for more space, clean and healthy living.

Ages: 4 - 9

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[RPBYS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tight rhyme, short verses. The text of this book is so polished, every brief word and phrase speaking volumes. A wonderful marriage of text and art. This would be a pleasurable read-aloud for slightly older children (ages 4+) and could be a great, accessible discussion starter for elementary school children who are learning American history.

[Alana Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a story of poems telling the story of the pilgrims coming over to the new world. The easy read gets to tell the story fast and easy.

The layout of the book makes learning about the pilgrims easy and fun, this would be a great for younger learners.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming picture book about pilgrim's voyage to North America. Some of the vocabulary and references required explanation for my child (and doesn't shy away from the dangers-disease, hunger, etc. of the time period). Informative for kids learning about the time period.

[Emily Knickerbocker]

This story tells a tale of living to travel to a new world. It shows the hardship but, in the end, the sweet relief of finally being in a safe place. I would ask the students to write a "journal" of their travels to the new world.

[Vanessa Becerra]

Thomas, Edward, Mary Jane, and their parents leave home. They leave London behind and cross the Atlantic ocean for a new life. Kids can write down a list they would take with their vocab words to create a sentence.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures, story told in poetry/rhyming form. Some of the words are probably above the heads of the intended audience, so it can also be a good vocabulary lesson.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about the journey to America.

[Congetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the concept of introducing children to historical fiction or history by using verse. Though this book is targeting younger kids I think it could be used for older kids as well. I liked that she used the vocabulary and language specific to the subject. For example, It is a great way to introduce nautical terms within context, instead of as a spelling list that has no meaning and they won't remember. It also inspired my son to use verse and her pattern of syllables to create some lines from the Iliad. You really have to know the topic or story to be able to create the story in verse. My son wants to read others by her.

[Lucie Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tattered Sails is a piece of poetry that is centered around a family of five and their treacherous journey to the New World. Poetry is a great way for students to envision the scenes visually through the play of words. I think that the story is smothered in adjectives that are not only descriptive, but also expressive of the storyline. The illustrations are visually stimulating and directly correlate to the words of the poem. "Windy weather, pitching decks, children seasick, craning necks." The picture of the ship allows students to connect the words with the illustrations. The verses are short and the rhyme is apparent. The pictures are detailed, which make it great for discussions during read alouds. The sentences are short and concise and focus on the journey of the family. It is easy to understand, but also has vocabulary that is rich and descriptive. I think that this story can be great to use if there are refugees or immigrants in the class or if there are students from far distances. It is also important to utilize for other students to see the journey that people go on to catch a glimpse of freedom. It provides the student with a chance to reflect and be grateful for what they have currently.

[Rebecca Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

We learned about the departure of the pilgrims and the voyage of the Mayflower in Tattered Sails by Verla Kay and Dan Andreasen. Although Kay never mentions either the Mayflower or the pilgrims by name, in her book, she depicts children in a crowded and dirty city, a crowded and dirty boat, and then the open expanse of land. I also liked the depiction of all the work the children had to do once they arrived in the new land. Kay writes in unpretentious rhyme that makes Tattered Sails a delight to read. Despite the lack of historical details in her text (or maybe because of what is lacking), her book was a good place to start in our discussion of the pilgrims because it provided discussion as we compared and contrasted their homes.

[Shanna Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

There aren't a huge number of Thanksgiving books truly accessible to a preschool and early elementary audience. This one doesn't specifically mention Thanksgiving, but it can do the job. It follows the story of three children who leave England to make a new life with their parents in Massachusetts. It ends with the family kneeling to pray next to a harvest meal.

The story line is minimal -- a few choice details on every page -- delivered in rhythmic, rhyming verse, with very nice illustrations. If the verse isn't of the highest poetic quality, its rhythm is pleasant and it gets the story across. This is a good addition to the Thanksgiving reading list, especially if you have younger listeners.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, precise and rhyming poems along with textured mixed-media illustrations combine to make a fun book that also provides a glimpse into the history of early America. The poems are repetitive and short enough to entertain younger children, but are informative, too. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting version of a Thanksgiving story. It could just as easily be used on Columbus Day as for Thanksgiving. It is a lyrical, yet realistic look at the trials the pilgrims faced to come to the New World.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rhythm and rhyme of Kay’s books are impeccable—she never misses a beat. It begs to be read aloud.

[Sarah A]

This is a poetical version of the travels of a family from England to the US with details of the hardships and difficulties that had to be endured. Good for thanksgiving week.