The Great Depression for Kids

May 4, 2015
Opening and closing with Dorothea Lange’s instantly recognizable Migrant Mother photograph, Mullenbach presents a thorough but readily accessible account of the Great Depression. After a context-providing overview of the Roaring Twenties, Mullenbach explores the devastation brought on by the stock market crash, as well as the impact that events like the Dust Bowl had on an already dire economic situation. Though the topic is a necessarily somber one, Mullenbach also discusses how Americans held onto hope during the Depression. Included activities (such as making homemade whipped cream or writing a script for a radio play) offer additional ways for readers to engage with the historical material. Ages 9–up.

July 1, 2015

Gr 5-8-Mullenbach relates the trials endured by those living through the Great Depression, providing several related activities for readers. The book begins with an intriguing look at the photo The Migrant Mother and the story behind it. Mullenbach continues with a chapter about the 1920s, before delving into the stock market crash and the resulting woes, including the dust bowl, the plight of the migrant workers, and the New Deal programs. The information is solid, and Mullenbach provides facts not usually found elsewhere; for instance, she references Native Americans and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. However, the chapter about the 1920s seems unnecessary, as much of the information is unrelated to the subsequent narrative. A few paragraphs on the stock market crash are the only segue into the meat of the book; the rest of the chapter only serves to extend an already long narrative. While some of the recommended activities might be of interest to a motivated reader, others appear somewhat gratuitous (a paper airplane). Moreover, the stilted prose and dense text will turn away most readers. VERDICT Some of the activities will make this a possible supplemental aid in the classroom, but Russell Freedman's Children of the Great Depression (Clarion, 2005) is a better choice for those seeking material on this period.-Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 It's not easy to present a subject as large as the Great Depression to kids who have little knowledge of the historical context, but this book offers a good deal of information in a well-organized way. An opening chapter on the 1920s sets the stage for later chapters on causes, social effects, urban life, rural life, children, the New Deal, and popular entertainment during the period. Throughout the book, Mullenbach refers to representative individuals by name and places their experiences in the framework of events. Often this technique works quite well, though sometimes the lack of detail makes it seem perfunctory. The best example brackets the main text: the book's introduction, which introduces Dorothea Lange's photo Migrant Mother, and postscript, which updates readers on what happened to the family pictured, effectively bring the broad historical narrative down to earth with a well-focused human story. The activities in the subtitle include making whipped cream, designing a paper quilt block, and interviewing an elder who lived through the period. A useful addition to history collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)