Angels in the Dust (International Reading Association Teacher's Choice Award) (Hardcover)

~ Raven (Author) "Sometimes when the wind blows hard, Great-grandma Annie tells us a story from long ago, about dust winds and tin cans and the day the..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A girl faces down adversity in the heart of the '30s Dust Bowl; according to PW, pastels of the valiant heroine "reinforce the text's consciously inspirational message." Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?Dark brown endpapers and the colors of earth and dust seem to seep out of the full-page illustrations as Great-grandma Annie tells of growing up in the 1930s in Oklahoma. As Annie and her sister watch, dirt fills the air, covers the fields, and has to be battled indoors and out. "Dust pneumonia" brings death to their mother and Annie takes over the housekeeping. She finds a way to water her vegetable garden despite the drought and shares the produce with struggling neighbors. A fire destroys their house and leaves them without resources. They survive, Annie remembers, by hard work, by the love between father and daughters, and by the good will of the neighbors they had helped. "Nothing's so bad that it isn't good for something," Annie's mother once said, and her gentle and hopeful spirit lives through her children. This well-told tale of the hard times and grinding poverty of the dust bowl is good reading for any study of the Depression era or of America's past. The realistic paintings dramatically illustrate the events described. Pair this with books like Judith Hendershot's In Coal Country (Knopf, 1987) or Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach (Crown, 1991) to show how families can strengthen their ties to one another and find courage in troubled economic times.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Troll Communications (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816738068
• ISBN-13: 978-0816738069
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #267,163 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars angels in the dust, March 3, 2000

By	Ashley (USA) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderfully written book. The story is touching. The language is expressive and descriptive. The illustrations are vivid and add much to the story. This was a great book to read aloud. It can give students a taste of life in a different time and place. Wonderful!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Written Book, October 14, 1998

By A Customer

Angels in the Dust is a beautifully written book about life during the Dust Bowl. The story is touching and Margot Theis Raven has a true talent of writing. The illustrations are breathtaking!!!