The Coming of the Pilgrims by Smith and Meredith

The Coming of the Pilgrims, Told from Governor Bradford’s Firsthand Account by E. Brooks Smith and Robert Meredith, illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher

Published by Little, Brown and Company. C. 1964. Prepared in cooperation with and approved by Plimoth Plantation.

I was delighted to find this book recently at a used book store. First of all it’s illustrated by one of my very favorite illustrators of children’s books – Leonard Everett Fisher. There are many books about the Pilgrims that I already own and love, but this one was new to me.

If you have not read Governor Bradford’s book Of Plymouth Plantation, you might want to after seeing this book. Authors Smith and Meredith have simplified information from Bradford’s book and adapted it for younger children. The text is nicely illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher.

William Bradford was an English Separatist from Yorkshire who emigrated to Leiden, Holland, and then to America with the Pilgrims in 1620. He became Plymouth’s governor after the death of Carver, from 1621 to 1632. His most well-known literary work was Of Plymouth Plantation which describes the colony’s settlement, struggles, and achievements from 1620 to 1646. This is a very extensive, detailed account and will be over the head of most students under high school age. The Coming of the Pilgrims is a nice introduction to the story of the Plymouth Colony, especially to be enjoyed by younger students.

Smith and Meredith also wrote Pilgrim Courage, which is an additional adaptation of Bradford’s work at a little higher reading level than The Coming of the Pilgrims.

Leonard Everett Fisher, the illustrator, was born in 1924, and is still alive. Since 1955 he has illustrated 250 books, 88 of which he also wrote himself.  He was also commissioned to design 10 US postage stamps, including some for the Bicentennial. His characteristic style of black and gray line drawings, along with textured acrylic paintings, appeal to children. He has illustrated many kinds of books for children including biographies of such historic figures as Gutenberg and Galileo, American history especially of colonial craftsmen, mythological stories such as Theseus and Cyclops, and geography sites like the Great Wall of China. Whenever you find his books at book sales and thrift shops, snatch them up. You will not be disappointed.

Recommended additional books/resources to aid your studies:

Massachusetts by Bernadine Bailey

Miles Standish, Adventurous Boy by Augusta Stevenson, Childhood of Famous Americans book

How the Pilgrims Came to Plymouth by Olga Hall-Quest

If You Sailed on the Mayflower by Ann McGovern

The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty, Landmark book

Mayflower Secret by Dave and Neta Jackson, Trailblazer book

Mourt’s Relation, a Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth by Dwight Heath

N.C. Wyeth’s Pilgrims by San Souci

On the Mayflower by Kate Waters

Pilgrim Neighbors by Elvajean Hall

Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphrey

The Pilgrims and the Plymouth Colony by Feenie Ziner

The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern

The Pilgrims Knew by Tillie Pine

Rebel Pilgrim: Governor William Bradford by Wilma Pitchford Hays

Puritan Adventure by Lois Lenski

Samuel Eaton’s Day: Pilgrim Boy by Kate Waters

Sarah Morton’s Day: Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters

Log of the Mayflower by Philip Simon

The Story of the Mayflower Compact by Norman Richards, Cornerstones of Freedom

Three Visitors to Plymouth by James W. Baker, ed.

Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness

We Were There with the Mayflower Pilgrims by Robert N. Webb

Who’s That Stepping on Plymouth Rock by Jean Fritz

William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy by Bradford Smith, Childhood of Famous Americans

Christopher Jones, Captain of the Mayflower by Etta DeGering

First Adventure, John Billington by Elizabeth Coatsworth

John Billington, Friend of Squanto by Clyde Robert Bulla

Boy on the Mayflower by Iris Vinton

Last Voyages of the Mayflower by Kenneth Allsop

The Years Before the Mayflower: The Pilgrims in Holland by Anne Molloy

The Mayflower Destiny by Cyril Marshall

Children of the Mayflower by Mildred Comfort

1620: Year of the Pilgrims by Genevieve Foster

Across the Wide, Dark Sea: The Mayflower Journey by Jean Van Leeuwen

Little Pioneers by Maude Warren

Pilgrim Thanksgiving  by Leonard Weisgard

Thunder from the Clear Sky by Marcia Sewell

Christmas on the Mayflower by Wilma Pitchford Hays

The First Year by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft

The Legend of Squanto by Focus on the Family, audio radio theater, excellent!

Squanto and the Pilgrims by A.M. Anderson, American Adventure series, highly collectible!

Squanto: Indian Adventurer by Stewart Graff, American Indian series by Garrard

Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla

Massasoit, Friend of the Pilgrims by Virginia Voight, American Indian series by Garrard

Tapernum’s Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times by Kate Waters

Five Kidnapped Indians by Anne Molloy

The Wampanoags by Kevin Cunningham, True Book series 

As you can see, I could go on and on with wonderful books by authors renowned for their children’s books from the Golden Era of Children’s Literature!

Review and book list compiled by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 22, 2017