Author | |
JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 17702
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 9:59am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Born and Bred in the Great Depression by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root.
We read this last night. The images are lovely. The author is piecing together his father's memories of growing up in the Depression on his family farm. The illustrations are very lovely, and there are actual photographs inside the covers.
The memories match very closely to my MIL's memories. Her family lived in the town of Altoona, PA. Her parents were very self-sufficient, and her grandfather had a dairy, so they never were hungry. Her mother made all their clothes. She also remembers how her mother fed different hobos or panhandlers regularly on her back porch (Altoona is an old train town).
There is one line that I disagree, where the writer wonders if his grandfather should have sought federal aid, if that would have made things better.
It was wonderful to read this, and have our boys identify with Nana's stories.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
Back to Top |
|
|
MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline Posts: 13104
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 12:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
It is a nice Depression Era picture book we have enjoyed as well. Thanks for posting it, Jenn. It got me thinking that we don't have many of the books covering that era listed together, so I thought I'd post the list I have made here.
Great Drepression/Depression Era: 1929 through 1930’s
The Lucky Star (Judy Young)
Saving Strawberry Farm (Deborah Hopkinson)
That Book Woman (Heather Henson) - Pack mule librarians, Depression era, Appalachian
Angel Coming (Heather Henson) - Frontier Nursing Service, Depression era, Appalachian
Rudy Rides the Rails (Dandi Mackall) - Depression era
Sky Boys (Deborah Hopkinson) - Depression era, New York, skyscrapers
::4 Real Thread Sky Boys
Pop's Bridge (Eve Bunting) - Depression era, San Francisco
Leah's Pony (Elizabeth Friedrich) - Depression era, midwest
::4 Real Thread Leah's Pony
Born and Bred in the Great Depression (Jonah WInter) - family story, Texas
The Carpenter's Gift (David Rubel) - Christmas, Rockefeller Center/Works Progress Administration
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
Back to Top |
|
|
JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 17702
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 12:30pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I love reading about this time. Another one:
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
Back to Top |
|
|
pumpkinmom Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012 Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1028
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 12:54pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh, my library has this book! We enjoyed watching the Waltons this spring and summer. I think this has sprung a interest in my oldest for that time period. I am getting him some WWII stuff, but I am going to add in the depression era books too. Especially in our economy today, it is hard for him to understand when we can't afford things. Especially when we use to be able to afford certain things. I always tell him to be grateful for what we have because it could be worse. I think this book could put that in perspective for him. Thanks!
__________________ Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
Back to Top |
|
|
JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 17702
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 1:04pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Do you think that On Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck is set in the 30s? It makes me think of that time.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Chris V Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2009 Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1598
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
pumpkinmom wrote:
Oh, my library has this book! We enjoyed watching the Waltons this spring and summer. I think this has sprung a interest in my oldest for that time period. I am getting him some WWII stuff, but I am going to add in the depression era books too. Especially in our economy today, it is hard for him to understand when we can't afford things. Especially when we use to be able to afford certain things. I always tell him to be grateful for what we have because it could be worse. I think this book could put that in perspective for him. Thanks! |
|
|
That's exactly what I was thinking as I read through the posts. We live in abundance, wealth and material is all around us. This would be an excellent way for me to cover some of the aspects of that era with my kids.
__________________ Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Chris V Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2009 Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1598
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
JennGM wrote:
I love reading about this time. Another one:
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. |
|
|
I just bought this book a few weeks ago! Love it.
__________________ Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline Posts: 13104
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
How many of you have parents who lived through the Great Depression? Many of us do though I know many of you are younger so it would probably be your grandparents who are of that era. My parents were born in 1929 and 1933 so did experience it. And even after the "Depression" was over they were poor. They have stories - very real stories, like Jenn mentions. Take advantage of those people's recollections (if they are still living). Have your kids talk to them - ask questions about the time. If you don't have anyone in your family check with nursing homes and senior centers to see if you can talk to someone who would like to share those stories. We don't have a lot of people left who really remember that time. Even my mom who is almost 79 really was only a few years old when the depression officially ended. Those who were old enough to really remember are getting pretty old if they are still around.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
Back to Top |
|
|
JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 17702
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 1:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
So true, Mary! We listened to a storyteller during the Civil War days a few weekends ago and he was stressing that we need to ask questions and listen to our parents and grandparents about their lives, their stories.
I've been into sewing vintage patterns, and 1930s is one of my favorite eras...even though my figure might not be quite right for it. Anyway, I am digressing a bit because it's not a picture book, but I have found it fascinating to learn about the history of feedsack fabric (also here and here).
It is thinking about this era that I find practical and wonderful ways of being a good steward of what we are given. The campaign "Reduce, reuse, recycle" becomes more appealing and realistic when looking at the necessity and frugalness of that time (rather than some liberal agenda).
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
Back to Top |
|
|
MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline Posts: 13104
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
JennGM wrote:
Anyway, I am digressing a bit because it's not a picture book, but I have found it fascinating to learn about the history of feedsack fabric (also here and here). |
|
|
Really cool. I think we need a separate thread for the Depression in the History forum. We have little mentions scattered around but nothing compiled together.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
Back to Top |
|
|
JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 17702
|
Posted: Sept 13 2012 at 2:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MaryM wrote:
JennGM wrote:
Anyway, I am digressing a bit because it's not a picture book, but I have found it fascinating to learn about the history of feedsack fabric (also here and here). |
|
|
Really cool. I think we need a separate thread for the Depression in the History forum. We have little mentions scattered around but nothing compiled together. |
|
|
I'd love it, Mary.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
Back to Top |
|
|