Picture Books in Hard Times

As I was writing my essay for PaperTigers about raising compassionate children, Mary E. Cronin asked members of the Child_Lit listerv to recommend picture books depicting families experiencing economic hardship. I thought my fire escape visitors might appreciate seeing her compilation. Interestingly, most of the suggested books focus on life in North America, and shoes seemed to be a common theme:

• Adler, David. The Babe and I.
• Bunting, Eve. A Day’s Work.
• Bunting, Eve. Fly Away Home.
• Cooper, Melrose. Gettin’ Through Thursday.
• Fleischman, Sid. Scarebird.
• Gunning, Monica. A Shelter in Our Car.
• Hazen, Barbara Shook. Tight Times.
• Hesse, Karen. Spuds.
• Hopkinson, Deborah. Saving Strawberry Farm.
• Jimenez, Francisco. The Christmas Gift = El Regalo de Navidad.
• Lindsey, Kathleen D. Sweet Potato Pie.
• Lipp, Frederick. Running Shoes.
• Miller, William. Rent Party Jazz.
• Noble, Trinka Hakes. The Orange Shoes.
• Palacios, Argentina. A Christmas Surprise for Chabelita.
• Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach.
• Rylant, Cynthia. When I Was Young in the Mountains.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Silver Packages.
• Smothers, Ethel Footman. The Hard Times Jar.
• Stewart, Sarah. The Gardener.
• Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. Babu’s Song.
• Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. Elizabeti’s Doll.
• Williams, Vera B. A Chair For My Mother.