Ellis Island, Doorway to Freedom

This picture book describes the history of Ellis Island, from its earliest days at Dutch territory, through the War of 1812, to its conversion into an imigration center. As such, over 16 million immigrants were processed there between 1892-1954 when the facility was closed. It was eventually restored and reopened as a museum in 1990. Written by Steven Kroll, the book is significant to Minnesota, because the illustrator, Karen Ritz, won the Minnesota Book Award for it in 1996. Done in pen, ink, pencil and watercolor, the pictures of immigrants especially, add much to the book. It is an excellent resource for children studying Ellis Island.