F.+Literature+Tie-in

Literature Tie-in

Four pieces of literature are included here as additional resources (beyond the curriculum text) about the California Missions System. Each piece of literature was chosen because it presents a different point of view and perspective from which to study and understand the California Missions System, and because they compliment the various lesson plans and assignments presented in this unit of study.



__**BOOK 1**__
 * Title:** //When the Mission Padre Came to the Rancho: The Early California Adventures of Rosalinda and Simon Delgado (2004)//
 * Author:** Gare Thompson
 * Publisher:** National Geographic Society, Washington DC

Author Gare Thompson weaves rich factual details and an entertaining fictional story to create a vivid image of life on the missions and ranchos of early California. The year is 1834, and Padre Carlos Ramon has come from Mexico to visit the Delgado family in California. California is under Mexican control, but it was once the property of Spain. The Padre remembers those times and shares stories of early California mission life with the family's children, Rosalinda and Simon. From the Padre, they learn about the missions' interactions with the Indians and even hear stories of pirate invasions! Many fictional dairy entries are included in the story, and serve as examples for the students' Language Arts assignment of writing a journal entry for a Padre or Native American living on the missions.

__**BOOK 2**__
 * Title:** //The California Missions (2007)//
 * Author:** Msgr. Francis J.Weber
 * Publisher:** Editions du Signe, Strasbourg France
 * Copyright Text:** Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Author Msgr. Francis J. Weber is a current day Franciscan friar ("padre"), and has been a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis for over half a century. The book includes beautiful full color photographs and artist renderings of all 21 missions, as well as detailed information about each mission for both past and present times. The book also includes biographies for the 9 Franciscan friars who founded the California Missions System, and photos of actual diary entries from those friars depicting thier views of daily life and interactions with the Native Americans who lived on the missions.

__**BOOK 3**__
 * Title:** //A True Book: The Spanish Missions of California (2010)//
 * Author:** Megan Gendell
 * Publisher:** Scholastic, Inc., New York

This Scholastic book includes interesting facts and information about the California Missions System, including how the missions were built, daily life on the missions, cultural and religious information for both the padres and the Native Americans, the end of the missions system, maps, timelines, photos and artist renderings, and a glossary of important words and terminology.

__**BOOK 4**__
 * Title:** //Landmark Events in American History: The California Missions (2005)//
 * Author:** Dale Anderson
 * Publisher:** Gareth Stevens Publishing, New York

Twenty-one missions stand along the coast of California as a reminder of the time when the Spanish Empire dominated the Americas. This book tells the story of those missions, the people who founded them, and the tragedy of those who lived and died within their walls. The Native people of coastal California were removed from their traditional ways of life and coerced into Christianity by Spanish priests and soldiers. On the backs of Native laborers, the Spanish built the missions into thriving centers of commerce and agriculture. This book examins the missions and the historical background and aftermath of this period of American history.