Children and Growing Up
The lives of children in the 1930s were changed by the Great Depression. Some were more affected by the Great Depression than others, but because many of their parents were in and out of work, many children from this time period adopted habits that they would continue to use later in life. I've known many people whose grandparents were alive in the 1930s, and many of them spent the rest of their lives being very careful about wasting food (including using things past their expiration dates, brushing off food that fell on the floor, or finishing someone else's leftovers). My grandmother was the same way.
Children's Toys
Because many people were struggling for money, they weren’t able to buy their children many toys. Electronic toys were very limited, although electric train sets existed. Electric train sets would be among the more expensive toys, something only better-off families could afford. Most toys were made out of metal, wood, or cloth, but some toys, such as dolls, were made out of celluloid, a precursor to more modern forms of plastic. Some board games that are still popular today, such as Scrabble, Sorry!, and Monopoly came from the 1930s.
Children's Books
Comic books were gaining popularity in the 1930s both in the United States and Britain. Some of the classic comic book superheroes who would be popular in later decades were created in the 1930s, including Superman (first appearance 1938) and Batman (first appearance 1939). For many decades, comic books were seen as something for children only, but in more recent decades, adults have become major fans of comic books, partly out of nostalgia, partly out of appreciation for comic books as an art form, and generally because they're fun. Some superheroes of the 1930s began as characters on radio shows before having their own comic books (Greatest 12 Characters of the 1930's). Some of them, like Superman, had their own, inherent, super powers, but others relied more on technology. They all pursued the cause of justice, righting the wrongs of the world, punishing the guilty, stopping villains, and using their money, powers, abilities, and technology for good. They protected the innocent and helped the oppressed.
Among the other children's books that were published during 1930s were:
- The Little Engine That Could (1930) - A small train makes it over a hill because she thinks she can and is willing to try.
- The Story About Ping (1933) - A small duck is lost on the Yangtze River in China when he disobeys his keeper's rules. Will he ever make it back home safely?
- Caddie Woodlawn (1935) - The adventures of a young girl in frontier Wisconsin in the 1860s.
- The Five Chinese Brothers (1938) - Five identical brothers with super powers must save the life of one of the brothers. Based on a Chinese folktale
- Mr. Popper's Penguins (1938) - Mr. Popper writes a letter to an arctic explorer who sends him a penguin as a pet. Soon Mr. Popper owns an entire family of penguins.
- The Yearling (1939) - A boy in rural 1870s Florida adopts an orphaned fawn but is later forced to shoot it.
Children's book series that were being published during the 1930s:
- Raggedy Ann series by Johnny Gruelle - The series had existed since 1918, and new books were being written.
- Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder - The series had began in 1932
- The Nancy Drew series - The series began in 1930.
- The Hardy Boys series - The series had existed since 1927, and new books were being written.
Resources
Children's Literature of the 1940s
These sites have lists of children's books that were published in the 1940s.
Forgotten Books and Stories: Books from the 1940s.
The 1940s page from my website/blog where I do reviews of children's books. I include some historical information with the pages for different decades, some of which is duplicated here.
Goodreads — Best Children’s Books of the 1940s
A list of 95 books from Goodreads of books published in the 1940s. The books are listed individually, not sorted by genre or series. Click on individual titles to read descriptions and reader reviews.
Classic Children’s Books By The Decade: 1940s
A list of 10 recommended books from this decade with descriptions.