Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story (Tales of Young Americans)

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Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story (Tales of Young Americans) PDF

From Booklist

Based on the experience of Ramblin' Rudy, one of more than a quarter of a million teens who left home in the 1930s, this picture book in the Tales of Young America series shows the hard times of the Depression as well as the adventure of the journey. The stirring full-page watercolor paintings capture the period with realism and a tinge of sentiment, starting with Rudy, 13, in a winding line of men and boys desperate for work. In a close-up portrait, unemployed, seething Pa tells Rudy, "You gotta look out for you and yours, and nobody else." Rudy hops the trains out West, crouched in a boxcar or on the roof, jumping off to avoid the police. He finds odd jobs, sends some money home. He does not strike it rich in California. Lots of doors slam in his face. But the hoboes and some locals help each other, and readers will be moved by Rudy's discovery that despite what Pa says, there is kindness and community. Hazel Rochman
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About the Author

Dandi won her first writing contest as a 10-year-old tomboy. Her 50 words on “Why I Want to Be Batboy for the Kansas City A’s” won first place, but the team wouldn’t let a girl be batboy. It was her first taste of rejection.Since then, Dandi Daley Mackall has become an award-winning author of over 400 books for children of all ages, with sales of 4 million copies in 22 countries. Recent picture books with Sleeping Bear Press include Legend of Ohio, Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story (Notable Book 2008 - Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People National Council of Social Studies & Children’s Book Council; winner of the Angel Award, 2008; Winner of the “Award of Excellence” from Chicago Book Show 2007) and 2008 release, A Girl Named Dan (her own “batboy” story, and a lesson on Title IX), 2 Mom’s Choice Awards & Amelia Bloom Award. Eva Underground, Harcourt young adult novel, nominated ALA Best Book 2007, starred Kirkus review, awarded a Top Teen Read by New York Public Library, finalist for Ohioana Award, was based on the author’s experiences behind the Iron Curtain. Love Rules was awarded Romantic Times’ Top Pick. Middle-grade fiction, Larger-than-Life Lara, Dutton/Penguin, which teaches how to write, while tackling the problem of bullying, is on the KY Bluegrass Award List 2007-8; William Allan White Award list, 2008-9; KS and KY Children’s Choice lists. Her Winnie the Horse Gentler series has sold over half a million books and Starlight Animal Rescue is a Gold Medallion finalist. Dandi received the 2009 Helen Keating Ott Award for distinguished contribution toward promoting high moral and ethical values in children and young adult literature. She also received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 2008 from the University of Missouri. Dandi is a national speaker, keynoting at conferences and Young Author events, and has made dozens of appearances on TV, including ABC, NBC, and CBS. Visit Dandi at www.dandibooks.com, winniethehorsegentler.com, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85oaIUbJ8j8
Chris Ellison, after receiving his formal art training at the Harris School of Art in Franklin, Tennessee, and then later at the Portfolio Center in Atlanta, Georgia, has illustrated both children's and adult historical fiction for the past 14 years. His first children's book, King of the Stable, was awarded the Gold Medallion from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association in 1999. Let Them Play is his first picture book with Sleeping Bear Press. Though a native of Louisiana, Chris currently resides in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, along with wife Lesley and young son Henry.