Meet Kit: An American Girl 1934
#1 of 6 in American Girl: Kit Series
What’s inside...
Kit longs for a big story to write in her daily newspaper for her Dad—that is, until she's faced with news that's really bad. When Mother's friends lose their house and come to stay with her family, it's nothing but trouble for Kit. Then Kit's dad loses his business, and things go from bad to worse. Will life ever be the same again?
Character compass
Kit Kittredge
Stirling Howard
Mrs. Howard
Ruthie Smithens
Jack Kittredge
Margaret Kittredge
Margaret "Kit" Kittredge
Ruthie
Discussion points
What challenges does Kit face during the Great Depression, and how does she overcome them?
How does Kit's family adapt to the changes brought by the Great Depression?
Why do you think friendship is important in the story, and how does it help the characters?
What lessons can we learn from Kit's determination and resourcefulness?
How do you think you would have handled the situations Kit faced?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in Kit's shoes and imagine how they would feel in similar situations.
Discuss the historical context of the Great Depression, highlighting its impact on families like Kit's to deepen your child's understanding.
Highlight specific scenes where Kit shows resilience or creativity, and ask your child how they might approach similar challenges.
Use examples from the book to discuss the importance of community support and helping one another during tough times.
After reading, ask your child to summarize the story from Kit’s perspective to reinforce their comprehension and empathy.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Kit displays resilience as her family faces financial difficulties during the Great Depression, showing determination and resourcefulness.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to remain positive and resourceful when they encounter personal challenges or difficult circumstances in their own lives.
Example Lesson: Importance of family support
Explanation: Throughout the book, Kit's family members support each other, maintaining a loving and caring environment despite external pressures.
Real-World Application: Children can appreciate and foster supportive relationships within their family, understanding that unity can help overcome challenges.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: Kit learns to empathize with people who are different from her, including her struggling neighbors and transient workers affected by the Depression.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be empathetic towards others' situations and backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and support.
Example Lesson: Creativity as a problem-solving tool
Explanation: Kit uses her creativity to write newspaper articles and creatively contributes to her family's economic efforts.
Real-World Application: Children can use their creativity to solve problems and express themselves in unique ways, learning that creativity can be a valuable asset in practical situations.
Example Lesson: Historical awareness and appreciation
Explanation: By experiencing the struggles of the Great Depression through Kit's eyes, readers gain insight into a significant historical period.
Real-World Application: This can help children understand and value history, teaching them the importance of learning from past events to better navigate the present and future.