The Great Depression for Kids: Hardship and Hope in America, with 21 Activities

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)