Mud Poppers & Leaf Whistles; Journey of a Young Austrian Immigrant is an historical fiction book written from the viewpoint of a young Austrian boy. Follow twelve-year old Johann and his family from a small farm in Eastern Europe to the port in Germany where they board a ship for the harrowing trip to America. They settle in Kansas and battle the elements to establish a new home. During the sixty-two years that Ellis Island was open, more then 2.2 million people from the Austro-Hungarian Empire immigrated to America. Today there are millions of their descendents residing in America. Are you one of them?