Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression
Illustrator: Lisa Campbell Ernst
Historical Fiction Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
National Geographic Children's Books, 1997 ISBN: 978-0792269465
This is the story of how a young couple called Agnes and Clarence, and their baby daughter Dorothy, manage to survive the Great Depression. Soon after marrying Agnes, Clarence loses his job, and the bank takes away his home. For a while Clarence is able to work in a coal mine with his father in law, but as the Depression spreads, the mine closes and Clarence cannot find any work anywhere.
Then someone tells Clarence that there are jobs picking potatoes in Idaho and so he, Agnes, and little Dorothy borrow a car and head out to Idaho.
Based on the story of the author's grandparents, this book gives young children a picture of what it was like to struggle through the Great Depression. Warm pictures compliment the simple and easy-to-follow text, and readers will see how rewarding it can be to look back at the lives of their family members.
