One Book Bradford:The Children's Blizzard

One Book Bradford, the community-wide reading initiative that debuted last year, has chosen “Children’s Blizzard,” a nonfiction book by David Laskin about the Great Plains Blizzard of 1888, which took the lives of many children because of its suddenness and ferocity.
The One Book Bradford Committee plans to hold several programs related to the book throughout the year, culminating in a visit by Laskin at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, at Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

“Everybody in Bradford is concerned about the weather,” said One Book chairwoman Pat Shinaberger on why the group chose “The Children’s Blizzard.”

“Everyone has weather stories to tell.”

In addition to Laskin’s visit, the committee has planned other activities to increase readers’ understanding of the book and raise money for the author’s appearance.

“The Children’s Blizzard” tells the story of a group of pioneers on the Great Plains and a blizzard that has been remembered for generations. After reading histories of the prairies, pioneer accounts and books about one-room schoolhouses, Laskin hit the road from his home in Washington state to interview descendants of those who lived through the blizzard and meteorological experts.

“I was struck at how emotional the history of the settlement of the prairie was and is,” Laskin said in an interview with his publisher, Harper Collins. “Many of the settlers of the region were tough, terse farmers who seldom spoke of their feelings and tended to be stoic in the face of tragedy. But even these people became quite eloquent and passionate when recalling the hardships of the early days -- the plagues of grasshoppers and prairie fires, the sickness and death of children, the near starvation they endured the first years.

“In a way it’s similar to the history of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony -- only this prairie history took place less than 150 years ago, so it’s still fresh in the minds of family members. It seems odd that there are people still living whose parents were pioneers, but it’s true. They’re elderly, of course, but that only makes their memories and impressions the more precious.”

A lifelong weather enthusiast and a student of history and literature, Laskin has written a number of nonfiction books about weather history, American writers, artists, gardens and travel. “The Children’s Blizzard” won the Washington State Book Award in 2005. Laskin publishes regularly in The New York Times Travel Section and in Preservation Magazine, and has written for the Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, Horticulture, Newsday and the Washington Post. He lives in Seattle with his wife, law professor Kate O’Neill, their three daughters, two unruly dogs and a large unruly garden.

One project the committee is considering in conjunction with reading the book is constructing at the site of the former Third Ward School a sod house like that built by prairie settlers.

In November, “Talking Up a Storm” at the public library will feature area experts lecturing on topics addressed in the book – hypothermia, Mennonite culture and meteorology.

The committee will hold a holiday fair from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dec. 6 for the sale of baked goods and knitted and quilted items as a fundraiser. Knitters and quilters interested in taking part in the project can contact Barb Bluhm at (814)362-6787 or Susan Sinclair at (814)362-1132.

In a cooperative venture with the committee, Bradford Little Theatre will present an original short play based on Ted Kouser’s book of poetry, “Blizzard Voices,” a collection of poems based on actual reminiscences of blizzard survivors. Cindy Matteson will direct. The play, to be presented Jan. 24, 2009, will be part of fundraising efforts for Laskin’s visit.

Shinaberger said the committee will also be working with the Bradford Area School District to tie in activities involving children in the community.

Twenty copies of “The Children’s Blizzard” are available for borrowing from the Bradford Area Public Library. The book is also on sale from local booksellers.

One Book Bradford was started last year by the Friends of the Bradford Area Public Library and the Pitt-Bradford Spectrum Series in conjunction with the Friends of the Hanley Library and members of 11 local book groups.