The Long Way to a New Land

Enjoyed by readers of age: 6 to 8

Read the most by: boys and girls

"We will go to America!" This classic early reader tells an exciting story and is also a good launching pad for classroom and home discussions.

Here is a realistic account of the struggles of European immigrants in the 19th century. This book is a helpful supplement to a history class and a courageous, compelling story for any occasion.

The year is 1868 and Sweden is a barren land of poverty and famine. Carl Erik and his family receive a letter from an uncle in America. The uncle realizes that the Erik family is near the end of their rope, and encourages them to move abroad to make a new life. The family sells all their personal items and begins a long trek across land and sea to America...

As a fan of this book and its companion, The Long Way Westward, put it: "The books describe the difficulty and dangers of the journey in a way that is non-complaining and full of optimism for a new life in America. Teachers, these books are wonderful for integrating with other subjects and topics, such as immigration, westward expansion, steamships, trains, geography, and American life in the 1860s."


Author-artist Joan Sandin's grandfather was born in Sweden and immigrated to Wisconsin with his parents in 1882, when he was only two. Joan herself spent time in Sweden and did extensive research to create her well-loved classic books about the immigrant experience.