Friday, December 16, 2011

Born and Bred in the Great Depression by Jonah Winter

The Great Depression touched everyone in the United States.  It was so big and overwhelming that survival became the name of the game.  Here is a picture book that can help your young ones understand exactly how this event impacted families.  It can also be a good way to talk about your own family's economic condition in the present time.

Schwartz & Wade published this picture book in early October and sent me a copy for review (thank you).  You can get a copy at your local bookstore now.

My grandparents lived through the Great Depression and the one thing it made them was frugal.  You did not waste money.  You didn't need the best or the name brand item.  If it would suffice, that's what you got.  You made a lot of your own goods instead of buying them.  And I don't remember them ever eating "out".  Fast food would have made them barf.

This story is set in East Texas in the 1930's.  This is the story of the author's father and how he grew up with seven siblings in a tiny house during the Depression.

The illustrations are old fashioned and show life at simpler time, when people made do with what they had.  There are photos on the endpapers showing his family, which makes the story even more real to the young ones.

I can also attest that hobos do put marks on homes that are friendly and will provide a sandwich and a glass of water.  They visited our farm house when I was a child.  The habits of long ago don't die as long as folks still ride the rail.

Here's a nice history lesson done in a mellow way that brought back memories for me and will teach young ones not to forget the lessons we've already learned.

Happy reading.

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