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1931 - 1940 Cohort

The Great Depression, the Dustbowl, the New Deal and then the looming World War.

What were children reading in these perilous times? Tell us in your comments below what you remember as your favorite stories.

Picture Books

Perez and Martina A Portorican Folktale by Pura Belpre and illustrated by Carlos Sanchez 1932

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans 1939 Recommended
Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel by Virginia Lee Burton 1939 Highly recommended
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant 1933 by Jean de Brunhoff Highly Recommended
Angus Lost by Marjorie Flack 1932 Recommended
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack 1933 Recommended

The Restless Robin by Marjorie Flack 1937

The ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag Suggested
Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky 1939 Recommended

Cock-Doodle-Doo by Berta and Elmer Hader 1939

Title by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson 1936 Highly Recommended

The Cruise of Mr. Christopher Columbus by Sadyebeth and Anson Lowitz and illustrated by Anson Lowitz 1932

Buttons by Tom Robinson and illustrated by Peggy Bacon 1938

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss 1937 Recommended
The 500 Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss Highly Recommended
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina 1940 Recommended
Honk the Moose by Phil Stong and illustrated by Kurt Wiese 1935 Recommended
Alexander the Gander by Tasha Tudor 1939

Independent Reader

Billy and Blaze by C.W. Anderson 1936 Recommended
Blaze and the Forest Fire by C.W. Anderson 1938 Suggested
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater and illustrated by Robert Lawson 1938 Recommended
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman 1935 Recommended
Calico Bush by Rachel Field 1931 Recommended
Lassie Come Home by Eric Mowbray Knight and illustrated by Marguerite Kirmsey 1940 Recommended
Ben and Me: A New and Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin As Written by His Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson 1939 Suggested
Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace and illustrated by Lois Lenski 1940 Recommended
Roller Skates by Ruth Sawyer and illustrated by Valenti Angelo 1936 Suggested
Title by Kate Seredy 1937 Recommended
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers and illustrated by Mary Shepard 1934 Highly Recommended
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder 1932 Highly Recommended
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Garth Williams 1935 Highly Recommended

Young Adult

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and illustrated by Alan Lee 1937 Highly Recommended

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