Pioneering on the Plains (Dyslexia Series)

Product Description

When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law in 1862, people all over the world—not just Americans—jumped at the chance to become landowners in the vast Midwest of the United States. The purpose of the act was twofold: to encourage western expansion across the country, and to give people who might not otherwise have one a chance to better themselves as property owners. It was an incredible opportunity, especially for former slaves, women, and immigrants who wanted to build a new life for themselves in America.

That 270 million acres were settled as a result of the Homestead Act—a full 10% of the country—belies the facts of how hard it was to homestead in the Great Plains. It was backbreaking work, and it was not for everyone. People in the eastern states often came to sudden and sharp realizations about the work involved and the challenges that might ultimately foil their attempts at success. Still, however, the dedicated pressed on, and eventually small farms dotted the horizon that previously had been unbroken, often by even a single tree.

This series includes only two parts, and each of them is longer than many of the parts in the other series that make up the broader collection of Adventures on the American Frontier stories. However, these two stories follow characters through their experiences in more depth and with more detail, almost like small novellas rather than short stories, enabling children to build their reading confidence by giving them longer works that draw them along through the engaging storylines. Each story presents a picture of life on the prairie, one in Iowa and one in Kansas, that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

These books are printed in a special dyslexia-friendly font that makes them easier for some children with visual processing problems to read. A special feature of the books is that each two-page spread contains a QR code that links to audio of the book being narrated. Children can listen and follow along to help them learn the words that they are seeing.

The Pioneering on the Plains Dyslexia Series offers a way for children with reading difficulties to enjoy reading and American history in a rare and wonderfully accessible combination that they will treasure for years to come.