School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-An attractive, accessible presentation. The book starts with the 1920s and the dawning of the hard times that began with the stock market crash of 1929 and ends with a hope for a better future, although the war, which ended the Great Depression, is barely touched upon. The focus here is clearly on everyday life during these dismal times. Each topic is covered in a spread ("The Roaring Twenties," "Hard Travelin'," "Outdoor Fun," "Fashion," etc.). "A Depression for All" describes additional hardships faced by African Americans during this period. The oversized spreads are well designed, each with a liberal assortment of quality photos, many of them archival, of scenes and artifacts; reproductions of book and magazine covers, movie posters, and cartoon illustrations; drawings; or a painting. Kit Kittredge from the "Kit" series (American Girl) and her fictional environment make several appearances. There are no sources listed, and there is no index. Although italicized words are defined in the text, there is no glossary. This is a good introduction to this period, but will appeal primarily to readers of the series.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Scrapbook History Two titles in the American Girls Collection provide a unique perspective on history with a handsome square scrapbook presentation, including vintage-style postcards and pullout souvenirs. The first, Molly's Route 66 Adventure by Dottie Raymer, illus. by Nick Backes, takes readers for an eight-state ride, from Illinois to California, along the Main Street of America. In Samantha's Ocean Liner Adventure also by Raymer, illus. by Dan Andreasen, readers can imagine a turn-of-the-20th-century cruise aboard the S.S. Londonia. Welcome to Kit's World 1934: Growing Up During America's Great Depression by Harriet Brown, illus. by Walter Rane, Jean-Paul Tibbles, Susan Moore, Susan McAiley and Philip Hood, in an oversize volume, provides a well-researched and engaging account of the era. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Filled with photos and drawings, this is a useful resource on America during the 1930s. Each chapter traces an aspect of life, from economics to the weather to popular culture. The link to Kit Kittredge, the American Girls character, is a bit tenuous, and the fictional asides seem forced, but readers will enjoy looking through the busy, oversize pages. From HORN BOOK Fall 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3-6. This heavily illustrated volume in the American Girls series offers children a visually rich introduction to the Great Depression, represented by Kit growing up in 1934. Most of the very large, double-page spreads focus on specific topics, such as the crash of the stock market, Okies, movies, and the effects of the Depression on African Americans. A paragraph or more of text introduces each topic, which is developed in a series of well-captioned photos-- many from the period and others showing artifacts from that time--and sometimes an original painting. Occasionally a spread or a box within a spread will tell a story of children in the era. Some of these tales are fictional, but it is not always possible to tell which ones, an unfortunate circumstance in a nonfiction book. Still, children researching the period will find the book a stimulating introduction to everyday life during the Great Depression. Carolyn Phelan.
