The Oregon Trail

Gr 3-6-Heading for what is now the Northwestern U.S. from Missouri in the mid-1800s was an arduous journey of many months and even more dangers, as is made clear in Rau's narrative, which integrates first-person accounts and colorful illustrations. All are fully indexed and cited, and the lone map is sufficient. Most journeyed in covered wagons, and supplies and preparations are outlined. Next comes a day-in-the-life accounting of what a typical traveler would experience from sunup to bedtime. In spite of the many threats such as weather and cholera, most people stuck it out, and even enjoyed themselves, and some of the weddings and births that occurred on the trail are shared. Befitting the series title, the book gives a personalized version of this historical movement and the cultural and political elements of the time are firmly in the background. This book will supplement school units and inject some reality into the curriculum, but the nuts and bolts of the Oregon Trail are found in numerous other sources, making this title a supplemental purchase.-Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.