First Farm in the Valley

The kids will enjoy this new series of books.

"First Farm in the Valley, Anna's Story" is a Latsch Valley Farm book, set in western Wisconsin in the 1870's, when Polish settlers combined with folk from Norway, Germany, and other countries emigrated to begin profitable farming in Wisconsin. At six years of age, Anna is proud that her family was the very first to begin settling in the Latsch Valley, beginning their life there in a small sod house which still stands, used occasionally to shelter pigs. Anna's family has grown and prospered, moving into a fine lumber house that they have build on to as the family grew. Other settlers have come to the valley, and Anna's awareness of her Polish heritage is beginning to merge with the knowledge that she is a citizen of the United States. "First Farm in the Valley" traces many of the beginning adventures faced by Wisconsin's immigrant settlers and will definitely appeal to readers age 8-12. It also would be great material for reading aloud to 5-year-olds and up. Cultural history mixes with agricultural practices and readers will identify with the perceptions of a curious 6-year old girl in a time of great change and growth.

I love this book! Anna is a sweet, adorable six-year-old, who lives with her large Polish family in rural Wisconsin during the 1870's. Far from living a boring life, she experiences one adventure after another from getting caught in a hail storm while tending the sheep to having a train locomotive bear down on her when the sleigh she is in gets caught on the train tracks. Sprinkled throughout are moments of humor, such as when Anna knits mittens to keep her kitten warm and moments of sadness, such as when the children in the valley die from diphtheria. Anna's narrative also offers a wonderful introduction to the Polish customs of Easter and Christmas. You will learn about gvjozdki and Dyngus. Her gratitude for little things like her Christmas bag of candy and thoughtfulness when she plans a special surprise with her sisters for her mother's name day are heartwarming. For those who wonder what life was like back then for a large Polish family, this offers a realistic slice of life with plenty of drama and action. This series is being reprinted as the Latsch Valley Farm Stories published by Bethlehem Books with a new illustrator, Roseanne Sharpe.

First Farm in the Valley was a beautiful story of Wisconsin pioneering/farming around the 1870's. It speaks to traditional families and the warmth, strength and values of hard-working people. I appreciated the religious values of this Polish immigrant family and my daughter equally enjoyed it.