SAVING STRAWBERRY FARM

Hopkinson, with her remarkable talent for bringing small incidents of history to life, tells a touching tale of generosity in the midst of the poverty of the Great Depression. Davey and Little Rose can remember when things were better, when Dad worked regularly, they drank lemonade with ice delivered by the iceman, wore new clothes and ate meat. Now times are hard for them . . . and just about everyone they know. When news circulates that Miss Elsie is about to lose her beloved strawberry farm to the bank, shopkeeper Mr. Russell comes up with the idea of a penny auction, where everyone in the bidding group agrees to keep the prices low. The children get in on the plan by secretly showing all their friends a new penny and the adults get the picture right away. When it comes down to the auction, the plan works like a charm. The pictures have some of the quality of the familiar photographs of the time, but the almost garish colors seem out of context for this inspiring Depression-era story. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)