by Moe Zilla

Created on: February 22, 2010

"...the first thing she saw was the statue of Liberty," the book begins - and it's another touching story about immigrants to America. Elisa Barton also wrote Peppe the Lamplighter a story for which she won a Caldecott honor. For this story, she brings in the same artist - Ted Lewin - to capture the story of coming to America. It's described as "companion" book to "Peppe the Lamplighter." And it's ultimately just as affecting...

The book includes a special dedication to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, and it 's based on some real history. It was inspired by a story told by the great-uncle of the book's author, according to the book's jacket. ("There really was a 'Rosie', and she really did lead the procession of the feast of San Gennaro dressed as the Statue of Liberty.") When she arrived in New York Harbor, Rosie said it was was her wish to look as grand as the statue. "Tutt e possibile in America," her mother responded.  

Anything is possible in America...

The story remembers how Italian immigrants brought the Feast of San Gennaro to America. (It became a New York festival in 1926, according to Wikipedia, "when newly arrived immigrants from Naples congregated along Mulberry Street in the Little Italy section of New York City to continue the tradition...") But the drama begins when mean girls in Rosina's neighborhood taunt her superstitions about warding off evil. One says, "Don't you know in America we don't believe in that?"

"I'm American too," Rosina responds...

It troubles her sense of identity. Rosie gives her doll an American name. She tells her mother than American girls don't eat eggplant. But she still wants to prove that she's really American - even as the neighborhood prepares for their big Italian celebration. So her stomach flops nervously when the day of the festival arrives. But when she emerges dressed as the statue of liberty, the crowd cheers enthusiastically.

And the procession marches down the street followed by two enormous flags - one American, and one Italian. That evening, Rosie dances with a boy dressed like Uncle Sam - and remembers what her mother told her.  Anything is possible in America.  And fireworks light up the sky.

Though it's the book's jacket that supplies the story's real ending. The real Rosie really did meet a boy dressed like Uncle Sam.

And eventually, she married him.

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