Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley

This is a non-fiction book written for upper elementary readers. In it is the story of the 'Okies' struggle during the Dust Bowl in the 1930's. Much of the book tells about the school the children (with the help of a man named Mr. Hart) build for themselves in California since they were not allowed to attend local schools.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it to my students and perhaps even make it required reading during a unit on the Dust Bowl. The book is full of pictures, letters, and quotations from that time that help the reader better understand what it was like to be there.
The book teaches about how cruel people can be to each other when they feel threatened (exemplified in the way the Californians treat the Okies) and how dedicated people can be when they feel strongly about what they are doing. The story of the Weedpatch School is incredible and inspirational. Reading about how much the Okie children loved their school and how dedicated and involved they were with it may make students think about the role of school and education in their lives and feel grateful for their opportunities.