Additional information
by Sherry Garland (Author)
Voices from those who lived through the largest environmental catastrophe in American history.
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.
Front Jacket
In the 1930s, severe drought and dust storms affected everyone in the plains region that became known as the Dust Bowl. Bringing to life symbolic characters of the past, this collection of representative narratives describes what life was like during an era of ecological disaster.
Destitute and worn, people from all walks of life convey their concerns and hopes for the future. Memorable historical figures such as Bonnie Parker and Dorothea Lange appear alongside ordinary farmers, cowboys, schoolteachers, and nurses, all yearning for the fateful day when the rain will return.
The emotionally charged passages in this latest volume of Sherry Garland's historical Voices Series highlight residents of a world covered in dust.
The award-winning author of more than thirty books, Sherry Garland enjoys writing about history and interesting people. Her children's historical picture books The Buffalo Soldier, Voices of the Alamo, and Voices of Gettysburg 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 Pelican's Best Horse on the Force. She lives in Central Texas.
A former elementary art and high-school graphic and media arts teacher, Judith Hierstein is a volunteer art teacher at the elementary-school level. She has illustrated several children's books, including the Toby Belfer Series, 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, all available from Pelican. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Author Biography
Sherry Garland has written more than thirty books and won more than forty awards, including an ALA Notable recognition and a Reading Rainbow book selection. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and schools across the country, particularly in her home state of Texas. Garland created the Voices Series to provide personal narratives of pivotal moments in America's past. The series includes Voices of Pearl Harbor, Voices of the Dust Bowl, Voices of Gettysburg, and Voices of the Alamo. Her other titles include Best Horse on the Force, The Buffalo Soldier, and Children of the Dragon: Selected Tales from Vietnam, all available from Pelican. Garland is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She lives in central Texas.
