Pistes d'exploration

Discuss the grandfather’s story and clarify why the Italian family made the trip to the US. How similar or different was it for them? Why might some people not have wanted them in the US?

On a map, plot the course the family may have taken from Naples to New York and Georgia.

Write the letter that the mother might have written to the father that prompted him to send travel tickets for the family. Or write what the boy might have written to his Italian grandmother telling about his new life in the US.

Write a diary entry to help you remember something important that happened in your life recently.

Discuss the story of the grandfather and clarify why the family made the trip to the US. 

On a map, follow the course the family may have taken from Naples to New York and Georgia. 

Write the letter that the mother might have written to the father that prompted him to send travel tickets for the family. Or write what the boy might have written to his Italian grandmother telling about his new life in the US.

Talk about your own story. Collect special objects in small boxes (or other containers) and prepare to tell your story.

Days before reading, question your family about your ancestors. In small groups, share their stories. Do you have memorabilia such as photos, letters, diaries or trinkets?

List the socioeconomic hardships mentioned in the book and explain how they are woven into the story.

Research and create a multimedia presentation on the role of Pier 21 in Canadian immigration. Make it more personal by sharing your information through the eyes of an immigrant. Present your work in the first person.

I Know Here, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, Wild Berries, Me and Mr. Mah

Mots-clés

Picture book , diaries , family history , grandfathers , heirlooms , immigration , intergenerational relationships , Italy

Commentaire descriptif

The writing in this captivating book is a tour de force, entirely composed of dialogue. The two voices, of a little girl and her great-grandfather, describe a lengthy and eventful tale, rich with historic detail. From the first words readers will be struck by the power of this approach: “Pick whatever you like the most. Then I’ll tell you its story.” “There’s so many things here.” “You’ll know when you see it. And then I’ll know something about you.” The vehicle for the story is the matchbox diary—a collection of small objects gathered over the years by the great-grandfather, when he was poor and illiterate. These objects reveal the great-grandfather’s adventures. A bottle cap marks the first time he ever had a bottled drink, in Naples. On the ship, in another matchbox, he put a sunflower seed for each day at sea. Realistic illustrations bring history to life for young readers. Colour images depict present time in the story while the past is represented in monochrome. Both are rendered with a nostalgic softness and meticulous attention to detail. This book is an excellent introduction to immigration history for independent readers.