All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel

Dan Yaccarino

Book cover for All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel
Book cover for All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel

All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel

All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel

Dan Yaccarino

View full details

Description
"This immigration story is universal." --School Library Journal, Starred

Dan Yaccarino's great-grandfather arrived at Ellis Island with a small shovel and his parents' good advice: "Work hard, but remember to enjoy life, and never forget your family." With simple text and warm, colorful illustrations, Yaccarino recounts how the little shovel was passed down through four generations of this Italian-American family--along with the good advice.

It's a story that will have kids asking their parents and grandparents: Where did we come from? How did our family make the journey all the way to America?

"A shovel is just a shovel, but in Dan Yaccarino's hands it becomes a way to dig deep into the past and honor all those who helped make us who we are." --Eric Rohmann, winner of the Caldecott Medal for My Friend Rabbit

"All the Way to America is a charmer. Yaccarino's heartwarming story rings clearly with truth, good cheer, and love." --Tomie dePaola, winner of a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona

About the Author

DAN YACCARINO is an internationally acclaimed author-illustrator with more than thirty books to his credit. Dan is also the creator of the animated TV series Oswald. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

Critical Reviews

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly:
"In this affectionate personal history, Yaccarino (Lawn to Lawn) traces his ancestry from Sorrento, Italy to New York City. . . Folksy and warm, this is a timely reminder that America is a nation of immigrants."

Starred Review, School Library Journal, March 2011:
"Yaccarino's family is proudly Italian, but their immigration story is universal. Readers of varied backgrounds will be able to identify with the search for a better life in a new country, the passing along of values and heirlooms, and the addition of new family members. The story will make an excellent family-history discussion starter."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, February 2011:
"With clarity and deep affection, Yaccarino turns his family history into a story of enduring charm. . . . A gloriously warm celebration."

"All the Way to America is a charmer. Yaccarino's heartwarming story rings clearly with truth, good cheer, and love." --Tomie de Paola, winner of a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona

"A shovel is just a shovel, but in Dan Yaccarino's hands it becomes a way to dig deep into the past and honor all those who helped make us who we are." --Eric Rohmann, winner of the Caldecott Medal for My Friend Rabbit

Publishing Information

Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Pub date: 2014-09-09
Length: 40 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.