Together in Pinecone Patch

I love this book. I grew up in PA and everything Mr. Yezerski writes and paints rings so true to life. I had fun reading it to my kids, not only for the Pennsylvaniana, but then we talked about how my husband and I met and how their grandparents met, etc. It was a great jumping off point for all kinds of family stories. Thank you, Mr. Yezerski!!

This book should be a part of every school's curricula! The issues of tolerance and diversity are expertly woven into this beautifully written and illustrated story about two families from different countries and cultural backgrounds. The messages are subtle, but definitely "in there". The content of Pinecone Patch is a spring-board for further discussions about how we should treat and respect people.

More books should be written like Together in Pinecone Patch that combine real history and a moralistic story in a the manner of an oft-told folk tale. Every moral doesn't need to be forced upon us and history shouldn't just consist of the stuff from text books. This is a great book in that it can initiate a discussion with children about important social issues and also show how events in family histories can be just as important as major wars. Kudos to a great beginning.

Together in Pincecone Patch is a touching story about families immigrating to the U.S.A. The characters are well developed and endearing. The story invites you in and makes you feel at home. What I liked best about the book is the way it deals with differences between groups of people, how they interact, and how these interactions affect the characters. The story offers an important lesson in prejudice. I used it in a 3rd grade classroom and found the students to identify with the characters and find meaning in the moral. Applause for Together in Pinecone Patch!