Learning History With Kit Kittredge

Pop-Up book about Kit's World. The tree house plus paper dolls:
 Kit and Ruthie are shown on the right.

       "Kit Kittredge is a fictional character in the American Girl series of books, written by Valerie Tripp. Kit serves as a protagonist and central character to her story arc, set during the Great Depression, beginning with the year 1934. Kit's core series of books was written by Valerie Tripp and illustrated by Walter Rane. 

       Kit was born as Margaret Mildred Kittredge on May 19, 1923 in Cincinnati, Ohio to a well-to-do family, and was named after her mother and her Aunt Millie. She, however, prefers to go by a nickname given to her by her family, which was taken from both her surname and the song Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag. Kit's father, Jack, owned a car dealership business in Cincinnati and was a World War I veteran. Her father's business still seemed to do well during the onset of the Great Depression, but was eventually forced to close when Jack used up his savings to pay his employees, sending the Kittredges into poverty." Wikipedia

• Meet Kit Kittredge an American Girl
• Kit Kittredge at Wikipedia
• Kit Kittredge - An American Girl Trailer
• Listing of Kit's Books
• My pinboard for The Kit Kittredge doll
• Vintage Ideas in Home Decorating from 1929
• The Teacher's Guide to Read All About It (PDF)
• Look up the meaning of the name, Kit

       Ruthie Smithens is Kit Kittredge's best friend. The only daughter of a banker, Ruthie (and her family) is not financially affected by the Depression. Although they did at times offer help to the Kittredges, it was mostly in ways that would not hurt their pride. She is depicted to have an affinity for princesses and fairy tales, most especially Andrew Lang's Fairy Books and Grimms' Fairy Tales, in contrast to Kit's more tomboyish personality. Despite their major differences, Ruthie is a loyal and courageous friend who will go to great lengths to help Kit. 

• About Book and Accessories for Ruthie Smithens doll
• Review of Ruthie Smithens doll
  

Artifacts at Our Blog for The Kit Kittredge Doll: 

• Arundel Oaks by Lupton Allemong Wilkinson
• Vintage Ideas in Home Decorating from 1929
• Depression Era Calico Prints
• 18" Doll Sized Red Lipped Rockford Sock Monkey
• DIY a doll sized farmer's market stand - make the fruits and veggies using all kinds of materials/clay 

More Links to Kit Kittredge Related Learning:

• Stories from The Great Depression
• Kids try food from the Great Depression
• History Brief: Daily Life in the 1930s
• Great Depression Cooking - The Poorman's Meal, Poorman's Feast, Breakfast
• Garden designs and plans so simple a child could plant them.
• My Day columns by Eleanor Roosevelt
• The Children Must Learn - Depression Era Circa 1940
• History Brief: The Dust Bowl
• Depression Era Calico Prints - from Prickly Pins
• The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City

Popular Music in Kit's World:

• "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag" Oscar Seagle 
• My Baby Just Cares for Me (1930)
• Cab Calloway's Hi De Ho - 1934 , Minnie the Moocher, and ten years later in Jumpin Jive in 43
• Gershwin plays "I Got Rhythm" in New York 1931
• Julia Gerity "Sittin' On A Rubbish Can", 1931
• Anything Goes 1934 - Cole Porter Songs and Dorsey Brothers Orchestra - watch a performance of the song in contemporary theatre
• BBC Arena - Woody Guthrie Documentary: Woody's Greatest Hits, I Ain't Got No Home In This World Anymore, 

Craft Links for Kit Kittredge Play and Adventure:

• Kit's Reporter Set
• Kit's Tree House DIY

Video for Kit Kittredge Doll Fan Culture:

• Kit's School Desk & Chair
• Opening Kit Kittredge BeForever Doll
• Kit Gets Ready for Christmas
• Meet American Girl Kit Kittredge
• Kit's Room Tour - Attic Bedroom
• Opening American Girl Doll Kit's Bed and Quilt
• Kit finds her dog Grace stop motion video
• Kit Kittredge's Historic Attic Bedroom 
• Opening And Review of Kit's Gardening Outfit

Advanced Reading: Historical Fiction that takes place during The Great Depression:

• Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Diary of Bess Brennan, Perkins School for the Blind, 1932 by Barry Denenberg
• Survival in the Storm: The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards, Dalhart, Texas, 1935 by Katelan Janke
• Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1932 by Kathryn Lasky
• Survival in the Storm: The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards, Dalhart, Texas, 1935 by Katelan Janke