In 1849 over 25,000 people emigrated to California as part of the overland journey and most of them walked, even the children. Life on a wagon train was hard work, but every day was still a great adventure for these pioneers. Ride along for a day with Crystal and Johnny and their family as they travel across the wild west as part of a wagon train. When the contents of their covered wagon must be thrown away to lighten the load, Grandmother insists that her brass school bell be kept. After their horse spooks and runs away, Johnny and Crystal are able to find their way back to the wagon train when Grandmother rings her bell. This story is based on an actual incident in the author's family. The book is illustrated with oil paintings by Carol Mathis, and it contains fun facts and a bibliography. The author, Joan Barsotti, lives on an orchard, in a log house, in front of a forest in the Sierra foothills of Northern California in the middle of 'gold country'. She writes and publishes children's picture books and is a popular visiting author at elementary schools throughout Northern California. She has been a presenter at California Kindergarten Conferences, Nevada Reading Week Conferences, a California School Library Conference, and many clubs and organizations. Barsotti's books are all based on real events. Barsotti's research included her own family's history, interviews with historians (especially Jack Clough), and the reading of many diaries and books of this period. This book is recommended by the California State Sesquicentennial Committee. It was chosen as Best Children's Book by the Sacramento Publishers Association. - from Amzon