When author, Amanda Rose, asked me if I would be interested in reading her picture book about a German immigration story, I jumped at the chance! Immigration stories are fascinating and, since my own family also immigrated from Germany, I had a personal interest in this book.
It’s a Wonderful Story is actually based on the true story of Amanda Rose’s grandmother, her Oma. It shows the loving relationship between a girl and her grandmother as Oma shares how she came to live in the United States. While the overarching theme of the book is about immigration, readers will also see how two women from different countries and cultures met in an unexpected way and found a friendship that would change their lives.
Amanda Rose sprinkles German words throughout the text and highlights Oma’s love story by comparing it to Cinderella’s, except it isn’t a shoe that connects Oma to her prince! Illustrator Anne Rikta’s art facilitates an understanding of what Oma and Anna’s lives were like in Germany and the U.S.
For teachers, this book lends itself well to the skills of Compare and Contrast. It would be a great addition to the classroom library, especially in third grade when students typically study both immigration and folktales. It’s also a great way to introduce the concept of pen pals! Be sure to check out the photographs the author provided at the back of the book and the beautiful graphic on how to write a letter.
You can purchase It’s a Wonderful Story from Amanda Rose’s website. It can also be found on Bookshop and Amazon.
Essential Questions
- What is immigration?
- Why do people immigrate?
- Are family stories important?
Standards
- CCSS RL.3.1: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
- CCSS RL.3.2: Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
- CCSS RL.3.3: Describe the characters in a story and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
- CCSS RL.3.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
- CCSS W.3.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- CCSS W.3.8: Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
Vocabulary
- accent
- suit
- pen pal
- anxiously
- exchanged
LITTLE BIG PICTURE BOOKS 
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