Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s

Michael Cooper spoke to elementary school students and teachers about his children’s book Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s, published by Clarion Books. The book recounted the Dust Bowl of the 1930s that swept across the Great Plains to California. The author described the struggle to survive the harsh conditions of the migrant camps and the hardships of the children who worked alongside their parents in the fields and often died of disease and malnutrition. During his presentation Mr. Cooper read a brief passage and showed pictures from his book as he asked questions of the children in the audience. He also responded to questions from the students, who had been reading the book since the beginning of the school year. close