All the Way to America

Reach for this book when your child starts asking questions about their ancestors or feels disconnected from their family's past. It is an ideal bridge for children who are beginning to notice the different traditions or surnames in their classroom and want to understand their own 'origin story.' Through the journey of a small shovel passed down through four generations, Dan Yaccarino illustrates how a family moves from Italy to Ellis Island and eventually into the modern day. The book beautifully explores themes of resilience, cultural pride, and the way small traditions create a sense of belonging across time. It is a gentle, hopeful narrative for children aged 5 to 9 that transforms the abstract concept of genealogy into a tangible, relatable story about hard work and love. Parents will appreciate how it encourages children to see themselves as the next chapter in a long, proud history.