Yossel’s Journey
Yossel’s Journey by Kathryn Lasky is a beautifully illustrated historical fiction book for children aged 5-9 years. It is a story about an eight-year-old Jewish boy named Yossel who must leave his home and friends in Russia to emigrate to New Mexico. He overcomes language and cultural barriers to become best friends with Thomas, a Navajo boy his age.
The story teaches important lessons of how you can bridge differences to form new friendships yet maintain family traditions in a new country while respecting the customs of others. The scene, when a Navajo baby laughs out loud for the first time at Yossel’s joke and the family celebrates, is endearing. This book could be read in a classroom and discussed as students explore their family ancestries. The illustrations by Johnson Yazzie reflect the rich traditions of the Southwest and add to the story’s theme of how cross-cultural friendships uplift and unite us in a diverse society. Yossel’s Journey would be a valuable addition to a child’s bookshelf.
