Accelerated Reader Program Selection
The 1930s Dust Bowl was the greatest ecological tragedy in the United States. Through a combination of drought and fierce winds, America’s Great Plains were left bare. In a series of sixteen narrative profiles, the author brings to life the voices of this time period. The characters who symbolize common residents of the “Great American Desert,” include a teacher protecting her class from a black roller, a nurse treating patients with dust pneumonia, and a nine-year-old girl who has never seen rain.
Dated entries appear chronologically and depict outlaw Bonnie Parker and photographer Dorthea Lange, among other figures of the era. In the back of the book, a historical note gives a thorough overview of the Dust Bowl’s national impact on population growth, healthcare, and the government. A glossary explains terms such as Hooverville and Civilian Conservation Corps. An educational resource, this illustrated history conveys the full effect of this disastrous decade.
About the Author
The author of more than twenty-five books, Sherry Garland enjoys writing about history and interesting people. Her children’s historical picture books The Buffalo Soldier and Voices of the Alamo have garnered several honors including selection into the Accelerated Reader Program, a San Antonio Conservation Society citation, a Storytelling World Award, and a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People designation. Garland is also the author of Voices of Gettysburg and Best Horse on the Force. She lives in Bryan, Texas.
About the Illustrator
A former elementary-school teacher, Judith Hierstein now teaches high school graphic and media arts. She has illustrated several children’s books for Pelican including the Toby Belfer Series and The American Revolution from A to Z, Nathan’s Hanukkah Bargain, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House, and The Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving from A to Z. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
VOICES OF THE DUST BOWL
By Sherry Garland
Illustrated by Judith Hierstein
JUVENILE NONFICTION / History / United States / 20th Century
40 pp. 10 1/2 x 9 1/2
37 color illus. Glossary Biblio.
ISBN: 9781589809642