Next Year

by Gary Kelley (Illustrator), Ruth Vander Zee

In the 1930s, as the entire United States contended with the effects of the Great Depression, dust storms raged throughout a portion of the country that had once been rich farmland. Depleted of their natural prairie grasses and farmed too harshly, eroded soils blew away as drought settled in. Like thousands of Americans during that time, Calvin and his family cling to hope as they wonder when "next year" will finally come. Ultimately, a choice will be made that will change the landscape of Calvin's family forever.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2017

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

More appropriate for older children. I'm not sure that young children will understand.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will help us to think about other "hard times" in history and the different responses to them. In this book, when the drought ends, the parents leave, but the boy who grew up during the Dust Bowl years stays to farm responsibly. The phrase, "Maybe next year it's gonna be better" seems like a refrain we could use! :-) My parents both lived through the Dust Bowl. Dad on a farm, and Mom in Denver, so this book feels a little like family history.

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book that tackles the dust bowl era. The author doesn't shy away from the harshness of the drought and the effect it had on people but still keeps it appropriate for even a second grader. The illustrations are stark enhancements of the time period depicted.

Totally captures the love/hate people had with the land.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful! I used it to introduce fifth-graders to a Social Studies unit on the Dust Bowl. To children born ten years into the new millenium, the 1930's is ancient history. Next Year is a brief but powerful story that brought this time in our country's history to life. All of my students were entirely engaged and moved by the story.

[Helen Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

NEXT YEAR-Hope in the Dust, by Ruth Vander Zee, is written in a poetic style with a story that comes full circle. The beautiful illustrations add to the emotion of the book and complete this story of desperation turned to hope. Love it.

[Vanessa Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful book about the depression and dust bowl. A journey that ends in hope and is full of the meaning of love and home.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful picture book that tells the story of one family's life during the dust bowl. The illustrations are gorgeous and Zee tells a simple, engaging story that ends on a note of hope.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books does a really good job of illustrating the hopelessness people felt in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, and would pair well with a 5th grade curriculum.

[Faith Cordes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad the book recognized the plow lead to the drought that lead to the dust bowl.