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Kirsten American
Girls Books about Immigrating from Sweden to the United States
in 1854
Each of the six books about
Kirsten Larson in the American Girls Series are described below.
These stories tell about a girl growing up in 1854 Minnesota
after immigrating from Sweden with her family to pioneer American.
These books are beautifully illustrated. At the back of each
book is a "A Peek into the Past" that includes
photos, drawings, and sketches about people, places and things
during this period of American History.
Recommended for Ages
7 and up.
Note: Book covers vary in design due
to publishers changes. Stories are the same.
Book
One - "Meet Kirsten, An American Girl"
 "Kirsten Larson and her family arrive in America
in the summer of 1854 after a long and dangerous journey on a
small ship. Everything in the new land is different from the
small village Kirsten left behind in Sweden. The way people dress,
how they talk, and the ways then travel all seem strange to her.
Will she ever feel at home in this new place? Getting lost in
a big city and parting with her best friend make her wonder.
It is only when the Larsons arrive at a tiny farm on the edge
of the frontier that Kirsten believes Papa's promise - America
will be a land filled with happy opportunity for all of them."
8.5 x 6 inches, 61 pages
Book
Two - "Kirsten Learns a Lesson, A School Story"
 "Kirsten has a hard time in her new American
school because she doesn't speak English very well. Miss Winston,
her new teacher, is strict and not very understanding. Things
get worse when Miss Winston comes to live with the Larson family.
Kirsten's only escape is playing with her secret friend Singing
Bird, the Indian girl. When Singing Bird suggests running away
forever, Kirsten must decide where she belongs. Kirsten does
learn some important lessons in school, but she learns something
even more important about herself."
8.5 x 6 inches, 69 pages
Book
Three - "Kirsten's Surprise, A Christmas Story"
 "Kirsten
and her family celebrate their first Christmas in America, and
Kirsten wants to keep some of their old Swedish traditions alive
in the new country. She secretly plans a Saint Lucia celebration
for her family. For her own Christmas she hopes for just one
special treasure. But everything depends on a trip to town that
Kirsten has been pestering Papa about for weeks. At last they
go, and the journey turns into a brush with disaster. When Papa
and Kirsten finally get back home, you'll understand and why
the candles in the little cabin glow with a special Christmas
love. "
8.5 x 6 inches, 61 pages
Book
Four - "Happy Birthday Kirsten!, A Springtime Story"
 "Kirsten
is excited about the springtime surprises coming to the Larsons'
farm -- including a big barn and a tiny baby. But changes bring
new worries and more work, too. First Kirsten is afraid for Mama's
health. The caring for a baby seems to make her life nothing
but chores. Soon Kirsten doesn't have time to help with the surprise
she and her friends are planning for their teacher. And when
she has to miss school to help out at home, she worries that
her friends will forget her. But Kirsten's hard work is rewarded,
and her tenth birthday becomes a celebration of family and friendship."
8.5 x 6 inches, 59 pages
Book
Five - "Kirsten Saves the Day, A Summer Story"
 "Kirsten welcomes summer when it finally arrives
in Minnesota. Even her chores, like going to the stream to catch
fish for dinner, seem like play. One day while she's fishing,
Kirsten leaves the stream to explore the woods beyond the farm.
There she finds a treasure -- a bee tree packed with honeycombs.
Kirsten knows Papa could use the honey to trade for things the
family needs. So she decides to surprise him by bringing the
honey home. Kirsten needs help, so she asks her brother Peter
to go with her. But they don't know that bears are after Kirsten's
treasure, too."
8.5 x 6 inches, 67 pages
Book
Six - "Changes for Kirsten, A Winter Story"
 "Kirsten
wonders if the cold Minnesota winter will every end. She feels
crowded in the tiny log cabin and looks forward to the days she's
allowed outside to help her brother Lars with his trap line.
One day she brings home a baby raccoon she's found in the woods,
and trouble begins for Kirsten and her family. The raccoon gets
loose and starts a fire that destroys the Larsons' home and everything
in it. The future seems bleak, and the family is discouraged
until Kirsten and Lars make a frightening but important discovery
in the woods. What they find means betters times for the Larsons."
8.5 x 6 inches, 65 pages |