by Marissa Moss
In her journal, Rose
writes "good riddance" to 1934, but it's the middle of
the Great Depression and, sadly, 1935 isn't going to be any better. She writes about surviving the dust bowl, about events on
their farm in Kansas and throughout the nation, about the
skinny cattle and her family's struggle to keep their land. It truly feels like it's told from the dust bowl children POV!
Moss has hand lettered the text and included numerous small doodles, plus added black- and-white archival photographs that lend authenticity (see below -- so great!)
Publisher's Weekly
called it a
"well- researched account" and School Library Journal
said ""Moss has done a fine job in research, and there is quite a bit
of historical information packed into this short book." And teachers will love that it includes some ideas for related activities for kids.
Children will learn so much from this journal! Marissa Moss has done
a great job of weaving dust bowl facts, emotions, and experiences into
little Rose's writing -- all those little daily details of surviving the
dust bowl. Kids will walk away feeling like they really know some
actual dust bowl children!
Marissa Moss has a whole series of faux journals, many full of historical details like this one. We find them so adorable and education! Kids can totally relate to these books!
For other books in this series, look up:
Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl
Hannah's Journal: The Story of an Immigrant Girl
Rachel's Journal: The Story of a Pioneer Girl
Reading Level
Interest Level: Gr. 3-6 Grade Equivalent: 5.2 Lexile: 820L
See Inside
Here are sample spreads
from inside Rose's Journal. Marissa Moss does such a good job of covering a very
scary topic --SURVIVING the Dust Bowl -- but in a kid- centered, less
scary way. We think it really does seem like dust bowl children have
written their own account (complete with little sketches).