Mission Santa Cruz

I went to the Sacramento Public Library to find some ebooks for children that are available for check out from home, or for reading from an in home computer or tablet device.  The series on California Missions drew my attention, especially the book on Mission Santa Cruz as it is the only Mission I have visited in person and I loved it.

Author: Kim Ostrow
Illustrator: 
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group (2004)
Prices: free from Sacramento County Public Library, Hardbound $22.70
Reading level: Grades 4
Interest level: Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: Online, 64 pages.
Series: The Missions Of California
ISBN: 9780823958788
Genres: Textbook, Reference
Subjects:

Santa Cruz Mission -- History -- Juvenile literature.

Spanish mission buildings -- California -- Santa Cruz Region -- History -- Juvenile literature.

Franciscans -- California -- Santa Cruz Region -- History -- Juvenile literature.

Ohlone Indians -- Missions -- California -- Santa Cruz Region -- History -- Juvenile literature.

California -- History -- To 1846 -- Juvenile literature.

Annotation: The history of the Mission Santa Cruz from 1791 to today.

Summary:  This book traces the history of the Mission Santa Cruz from 1791 to today.  There are details about the original native peoples whom the Mission was built to convert, pirates, Catholicism in California and how the Mission is used today as a museum.

Evaluation:  I was very pleased to come across this title, and the series as a whole.  As a mother of a California school child, I will undoubtedly be helping her find resources in fourth grade for her Mission studies.  These online books from Rosen are a wonderful resource.  There accessibility from home 24/7 without need to wait in a digital line to check them out is great.  Every fourth grader needs books on Missions and there are not enough hardbound copies to go around, so this resource is much needed.  As for the content of the books, they are well done for the age group that the books are focused on.  The pages are clean and clear, with maps, photographs, illustrations and information about the Mission.

Similar Titles or Authors:
There is a whole series by The Rosen Publishing group on the California State Missions.

Monterey Bay Missions by Emily Abback

Websites:
The Rosen Publishing Group

Follett/Brytewave Reader


Professional Reviews:
No professional reviews online.  On the Rosen website they have a blurb from the San Diego Schools.

"Supports social studies curriculum in grades 4 to 5."




All images (c) Rosen Publishing