Wagons Ho! (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Wagons Ho! Elizabeth Bush Hallowell, George . Wagons Ho!; by George Hallowell and Joan Holub; illus. by Lynne Avril. Whitman, 2011. [32p]. ISBN 978-0-8075-8612-9 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 2-4. Pulling up roots and transplanting a family clear across country never is and never has been easy. In this lively picture-book account of westward migration, Jenny Johnson and her family's covered-wagon trek from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon is portrayed alongside that of Katie Miller, whose family is now following the same route by car, trailer, and moving van. The Johnsons' five-month journey is marked by regret over friends and items left behind, the needling antics of a younger brother, worries about whether they can find their way, friends briefly made and lost, and long periods of boredom. Not much different, actually, from the scenes that play out among the Millers. On the whole, most kids will agree Katie has the sweeter deal, with hotel pools, plenty of snacks, paved roads, bridges, and a ready-made house waiting for her at trail's end. Still, there are moments over the five interminable days in which Katie might envy Jenny's campfires, easy access to "bathrooms" (behind just about any bush), and the sheer joy of hopping off the vehicle and walking alongside to stretch the legs. Parallel layouts of the breezy cartoon-styled jaunt make comparisons easy, and the overlap of the stories at Independence Rock, where the Johnsons inscribe their names and Millers read them, invites the past into the present for a young audience. The final panels realistically situate the families in their new surroundings, with Jenny far from school and the nearest friend, and Katie pretty close to just about everything, including the mall. And, happily, both gals can envision good times ahead in their new Home Sweet Homes. [End Page 147] Copyright © 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois