The Amish

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-- The story of the Amish people, so often told for the upper elementary grades, is now made accessible to younger students. With remarkable simplicity and clarity, Faber reveals the European roots of this fascinating group as well as their subsequent persecution and flight to America. She discusses their philosophy of education, family life, and farming as well as their strong sense of community; she also lays out some of the issues facing the contemporary Amish: government intervention, social problems, and dwindling land. Erkel's luminous watercolors capture the beauty of the rural landscapes as well as the curious juxtaposition of this old way of life with modern America. Lovely endpapers introduce readers to the beauty of Amish handwork, showing eight historical patchwork quilts. Unfortunately, the people appear to be rather somber while the text insists that they are ``really quite a bit like the rest of us.'' This is a worthy companion to Sally Foster's Where Time Stands Still (Dodd, 1987); readers requiring more detailed information will want to consult Richard Ammon's Growing Up Amish (Atheneum, 1989). --Jeanne Marie Clancy, Upper Merion Township Library, King of Prussia, PA