American Symbols: Ellis Island #17
Terri Degezelle

Degezelle, Terri. (2004). American symbols: ellis island. Minnesota: Capstone.

Grade Level: Prek-2

Awards: I was not able to find any awards.

Genre: Informational

Content Area: Social Studies

Author’s Credibility: The author visited the Ellis Island Museum.

Summary: In very simple terms, Degezelle explains how the United States acquired the island. Ellis Island became known as the “stopping off” place for immigrants coming into the United States.

Standards: Identify state and national symbols (History, Civics, Geography, Economics)

Access Features: Contents, map, timeline, hands-on activity, words to know, facts about Ellis Island, further readings, index, and Internet sites.

Illustrations: Modern and archival photographs, maps, and illustrations.

Text Structure: Descriptive

Use in Classroom: I would use with my study on American Symbols

Response: I am glad that I picked up this book. I have never thought of Ellis Island as belonging to anyone except the United States. It was named Samuel Ellis and it belonged to his family from 1770-1808. The United States bought the island from the Ellis' family in 1808.

Further Readings:
Ellis Island, Cynthia Klingel
Ellis Island: We the People, Lucia Roatman