Skippack School

With his German family, Eli crosses the Atlantic on The Charming Nancy. From Philadelphia, oxen pull their wagon into Penn's Woods, where they make their new home in the Skippack area. Eli loves outdoor work and play, but Mom says he must go to school. Though Eli expects the teacher to be cross, Master Christopher Dock is kind, firm, and patient.

Marguerite de Angeli was born in 1889 in Lapeer, Michigan. During her long, productive life she wrote twenty-eight books for young readers that won her a large and faithful audience as well as many prestigious awards. The honors she received include the Newbery Medal, two Caldecott Honor Awards, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and the Regina Medal. A mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mrs. de Angeli found her own family a vital source of inspiration. Each of her books reflects the wisdom and personal warmth that has earned her a special place in the hearts of generations of young readers.