Minnow and Rose: An Oregon Trail Story (Tales of Young Americans)
This entry in the Tales of Young Americans series of historical picture books depicts an encounter between Minnow, a Native American girl living in a village by a river, and Rose, a pioneer girl traveling west in the mid-1800s. Upon first seeing each other, the girls keep their distance. Then Minnow’s father offers to help the pioneers cross the river, and during the wagon’s passage, Minnow rescues Rose when she falls into the river. Later, the two celebrate their brief though rewarding meeting with handmade gifts. The descriptive, third-person narrative alternates between each girl’s story and incorporates details of everyday life, while the softly rendered, realistic paintings expressively depict the characters and events. Transitions between viewpoints are sometimes abrupt, and one visual spread of Rose struggling underwater may disturb some kids. Still, this is an appealing, child-centric story of communicating across language and culture and finding friendship despite differences. An introductory author’s note provides some historical background. Grades 3-5. --Shelle Rosenfeld