Caldecott Medal and Honor books for the year 2020

Caldecott Medal

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

This book is also a 2020 Newbery Honor book and the winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.

From the Amazon description of this book: “Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.”

 

You can watch the book being read aloud by the author to a group of students here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cHIWtl8PNk

 

Alexander is an accomplished, award-winning poet and author of 35 books, most of which seem to be centered around African Americans.

 

Kadir Nelson is a painter, illustrator and author. He has been a Caldecott Honor recipient twice (Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad in 2008, and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom in 2007– both favorites of mine) and won the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in this book, The Undefeated.

 

My opinion: Definitely makes an inspiring statement about African-American history and those who overcame so much. Includes the statement Black Lives Matter, which seems appropriate for the year 2020, but in this case without the violence of the movement. More on the inspiring side. The illustrations are oils on panel and are striking! One thing I liked about the words in this book are the repetitious use of the prefix “un” as in unforgettable, undeniable, unflappable, unafraid, unspeakable, unlimited, undiscovered, unbelievable, unbending, underdogs, uncertain, unspoken, untitled, and the undefeated. Those adjectives capture the poem’s meaning. I also like the facial expressions throughout the book and how they change from somber, hurting, determined, and finally hopeful and happy as the last page shows young black Americans smiling.

 

Caldecott Honor

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

From the Amazon description of this book: “A cheerful and action-packed adventure about the importance of friendship and community from a successful author and illustrator duo! Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river didn't know it was capable of adventures until a big bear came along. But adventures aren't any fun by yourself, and so enters Froggy, Turtles, Beaver, Racoons, and Duck. These very different animals take off downstream, but they didn't know they needed one another until thankfully, the river came along. This hilarious picture book and heartfelt message celebrates the joy and fun that's in store when you embark together on a ride of a lifetime.”

You can watch a video of the author reading and commenting on the story here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW9OYd5bcTI

And an interview with Morris here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--wyfRojEGA

Richard T. Morris is a more recent author. Morris also wrote Fear the Bunny, Sheep 101, This is a Moose, Two Brothers One Tail and Bye Bye Baby. He is an E.B. White Award Honoree and a Midwest Bookseller Choice Award winner.

LeUyen Pham was born in Vietnam and came to the US for art school. She has illustrated over 80 books including the Freckleface Strawberry series and the graphic novel series Real Friends (I have not read these yet). Bear Came Along is her first Caldecott award.

 

My opinion: The illustrations in this book are so fun and lively. They are done in watercolor, ink, and gouache on hot-press illustration board. The story line follows bear as he gathers friends along the journey down the river. They do well until they find themselves at the very top of a waterfall. Over they go holding on to each other. “So many different animals living their separate lives, but they didn’t know they were in it together until….” This book about friendships and enjoying life together will be enjoyed by young children. I love the author’s use of the word “until” which brings some suspense at the end of one page before you turn to the next page to find out what happens. Delightful!

 

Double Bass Blues by Andrea J. Loney and illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez.

From the Amazon description: “A joyous celebration of family, community, and the unifying power of music, perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street. Nic is an aspiring musician whose life spans two different worlds--his suburban school where he wows his friends in orchestra, and the busy city streets of his home where he's jostled by the crowd. Nic makes his way home from a busy day at school with a double bass on his back, the symphony of his surroundings in his heart, and a sweet surprise for the reader at the end of his journey. This is a sweet, melodious picture book about how dedication, music, and family can overcome any obstacle.”

 

You can listen to the book read aloud here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qD70U6EqyM

Delightfully done with commentary and sound effects.

 

The book has acrylic painted illustrations that are rich in color and portray movement and energy to match the story. I like the School Library Journal’s description of this book: “Colorful, full of movement, limited in text but loaded with emotion, this is an ode to the diversity of music and the determination of a talented kid.”

 

Andrea J. Loney won the New Voices Award for Take a Picture of Me, Mr. Van Der Zee!

 

Rudy Gutierrez has won many awards for his illustrations:  Pura Belpré Honor, an Américas Award, a Children's Africana Book Award, and a New York Book Award. Much of his work features Puerto Rican images, based on his own background. He has taught art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn since 1990. His illustrations are even featured on U.S. postage stamps in the Musical Icon series of Jimi Hendrix.

 

My opinion: Although the book is mostly wordless, the words that are in this book introduce the idea of onomatopoeia, very appropriate for a book about music. The book will be enjoyed by any child who is interested in playing an instrument and learning music. The boy’s passion for music and especially his large instrument are inspiring. He sets a goal and has self-discipline and determination to accomplish it. And he doesn’t let the scorn and unkindness of others stop him. This book made me glad I learned to play the flute and piccolo which are far easier to transport!

 

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Daniel Mintor.

From the Amazon description: “Set at one young boy’s annual family reunion, this Caldecott Honor-winning picture book by Kelly Starling Lyons and Daniel Minter is a rich and moving celebration of Black history, culture, and the power of family traditions. On reunion morning, we rise before the sun. Daddy hums as he packs our car with suitcases and a cooler full of snacks. He says there’s nothing like going down home. Down home is Granny’s house. Down home is where Lil Alan and his parents and sister will gather with great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Down home is where Lil Alan will hear stories of the ancestors and visit the land that has meant so much to all of them. And down home is where all of the children will find their special way to pay tribute to their family history. All the kids have to decide what they’ll share, but what will Lil Alan do?”

You can listen to the book read aloud by the author here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cHIWtl8PNk

The book not only is a Caldecott Honor book for 2020 but is also on the 2020 ALSC Notable Children's Book List.

Kelly Starling Lyons has written over a dozen books featuring African-American history and culture, including Ellen’s Broom which is a Coretta Scott King Honor book about a young girl who learns the true meaning of freedom during the years of Reconstruction.

Daniel Mintor, the illustrator, is a Georgian-born African-American artist whose work mainly features African Americans such as Sojourner Truth and William “Doc” Key.

My opinion: What stands out to me in this book is the concept of family, especially intergenerational family. And especially in the year of 2020, when so many family gatherings were cancelled. I know our family reunion in upstate NY had to be postponed, and we had been so much looking forward to it! The illustrations were created in acrylic wash. Some of the pages are bright and colorful and others are all in a deep blue hue. The concept of owning their land and its importance is featured. I feel this way, too, about the land where I grew up. Some of it has stayed in our family for two generations now; some of it has been sold as the older generation passed on. In today’s transient society, many have lost that love for “the land.” This book reminds me of another Caldecott book,The Relatives Came by Rylant, in which another family travels to grandparents’ house in the country for a reunion. That book was a Caldecott Honor book in 1986, a whole generation before this book. Interesting how similar the books are. From generation to generation, there is just something satisfying about gathering with relatives. It says you belong!

 

 

 

One Day in Ancient Rome by G.. Kirtland - A Book Review

This book was published in the 1960s by Harcourt, Brace & World.  Written at a middle elementary level with simple plot, this would be a nice read-aloud when studying Ancient Rome.

“What was it like to live in Rome at the time of Titus Caesar? What did people do all day? What did they eat and wear and talk about? What did children play, study, get scolded for, dream of doing? All these questions—and many more—are answered in this original, sparkling story of two children who lived in ancient Rome. From earliest morning when their pet monkey wakes them, through a busy day—studying with the tutor after breakfast, marketing with Nurse, wheedling honey cakes from the cook, giving a play-pretend banquet of magnificent sumptuousness—until late afternoon and the long-promised event the children have been waiting for, the reader experiences vividly and directly the lives of a sister and brother in a patrician household. 

I thought this book was part of the One Day series because the author did write some books for that series, but every list of that series I can find does not include this title. 

“Based on meticulous research, this charming story re-creates a way of life long since gone but which children today will read about with immense pleasure and a sense of actual participation. The Latin words and expressions throughout, for which meaning and pronunciation are given in a glossary, lend spice to the whole, and Jerome Snyder’s remarkable—and authentic—drawings are full of sly humor, fascinating detail, and great beauty.” (from the dust jacket)

The author, who wrote under the pseudonym G.B. Kirtland, was a writer of various genres. Al Hine was born in 1915 and died in 1974. In 1950 he married children’s author Sesyle Joslin, and they collaborated on several writing projects.  Together they authored Is There a Mouse in the House?, One Day in Aztec Mexico, One Day in Ancient Rome, and One Day in Elizabethan England.

Hine wrote some novels for adult with adult content so don’t pick up all of his books thinking they are wonderful for children. He authored some books based on movies like Bewitched.

The illustrator of One Day in Ancient Rome was Jerome Snyder. He was born in 1916 and died in 1976 of a heart attack following a touch football game in Central Park, New York City. As an illustrator and graphic designer, he gained great success as the first art director of Sports Illustrated and later Scientific American. He also taught art at such prestigious schools as Yale and the Pratt Institute. He illustrated several children’s books including the book One Day in Ancient Rome. His drawing in this book is simple black line and whimsical. “In the absence of color, his delicate, meticulous drawings demonstrate control of line, secure draftsmanship, thoughtful interpretation and a surprising agility for caricature.”

 http://adcglobal.org/hall-of-fame/jermoe-snyder/) 

Some additional books relevant to this title and the study of Ancient Rome include:

City – David Macaulay

Growing Up in Ancient Rome – Mike Corbishley

Who Were the Romans – Phil Roxbee Cox

Stories from Roman History – Jean DeFrasne

Ancient Rome – Sophia Fenton

Story of the Romans – H.A. Guerber

Lives of Famous Romans – Olivia Coolidge

Gods & Goddesses in the Daily Life of the Ancient Romans – Peter Hicks

Beyond Amazing: Six Spectacular Science Pop-Ups – Jay Young (includes an abacus)

The Magic of Paper – Walter Buehr (includes information about papyrus)

Here Come the Elephants – Alice Goudey

Elephant Families – Arthur Dorros (Let’s Read and Find Out early science series)

A First Look at Monkeys and Apes – Millicent Selsam

The First Book of Time – Jeanne Bendick (sundials)

Tiber: The Roman River – Nora Nowlan (Rivers of the World series)

(All rights reserved. Please ask permission before copying this review or publishing it elsewhere. Thank you. Sandy Hall, February 2019)

Cutlass in the Snow by Elizabeth Shub

Cutlass in the Snow - Elizabeth Shub

A book review by Sandy Hall

“There are events so strange or unlikely that in time people stop believing that they really happened. Over the years they are told by parents to children, by neighbors to friends, until the truth is slowly forgotten. They become stories, local legends…..” This is that kind of story.

When a young boy Sam and his grandpa sailed across Great South Bay to Fire Island which is south of Long Island, NY, one day in the winter of 1797, they were just searching for holly to use to decorate their home for Christmas. Instead, what they found was something far more unbelievable and amazing, so much so, that in time people stopped believing.

Today Fire Island is a beach-lover’s wonder land. Beautiful sand beaches stretch across the south shore of this narrow island. A historic lighthouse is worth the walk to see, and lovely homes have also been built here in places. Some of my favorite memories of my husband are when we would pick up a sandwich at a local shop and drive 10 minutes to Fire Island. We sat along the beach and enjoyed the sound of the waves, ate our meal, and then walked and talked along the water’s edge. Even in winter, some days were warm enough for this little get-away!

But in the late 18^th century, Fire Island was a wild, empty place where Long Island locals would go to hunt raccoons. Some said that pirates came here, but grandpa had never seen them. In November of 1797, the weather turned warm so grandpa decided to take his grandson to Fire Island to collect holly for their Christmas décor. They took provisions for lunch and sailed then in their small boat across the Great South Bay, a trip of about 2 hours. Once there, they began to explore the island, climbing the dunes. Grandpa wanted to show Sam the great Atlantic Ocean on the other side. After collecting the holly branches, it started to snow. They decided to spend the night on their boat and had prepared for this possibility.

During the night, Sam awoke and saw lights on the island. Lights that were moving. What were they? WHO was there? In the morning, they discovered something amazing!

I’ll leave you there. This well-told story is a well-known legend of the Long Island area. “Grandpa’s story, and how the long-lost truth came to light, is still told in the Campbell family. Descendants of Grandpa still live in the old farmhouse” and a special item is passed down from generation to generation to the eldest Campbell boy on his tenth birthday.

This book is only 46 pages long and is written on a middle elementary reading level; however, it is a delightful story to read aloud to the entire family.

“Editor and translator Elizabeth “Libby” Shub was born in Vilno, Poland, the daughter of Samuel and Bessie Charney. In 1919, her family moved to the United States, where they settled in New York and her father, writing as Shmuel Niger, worked as a literary critic for the Yiddish newspaper The Day. Because her parents ran a literary salon in their home, Shub was exposed to Yiddish literature and writers from an early age. She met author Isaac Bashevi Singer when her father invited him to dinner at their house soon after Singer’s arrival in the United States in 1935, and they developed a lasting friendship. In 1965….Elizabeth began working as a reader in the children’s department at Harper & Row Publishers and soon became an associate editor there. She later worked at Charles Scribner’s Sons (1966-1968) and Macmillan Publishing Company (1968-75), also as an associate editor of children’s books. She became senior editor at Greenwillow Books in 1975 and retired from that position in 1996.

“It was Shub who suggested to Singer that he write a children’s book. He agreed to write one if she would translate it from Yiddish to English: the result to Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories (1966), which won a Newbery Honor Book award, as did another collaboration, When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw and Other Stories (1968)….In addition to works by Singer, Shub translated other folk tales and children’s stories. Her translations of Theodor Fontane’s Sir Ribbeck of Ribbeck of Havelland and About Wise Men and Simpletons: Twelve Tales from Grimm won American Library Association Notable Book awards in 1969 and 1971. Shub also wrote several original books for children, including The White Stallion (1982), She died in New York City on June 18, 2004, at the age of 89.” (Source: https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uthrc/00353/hrc-00353.html)

The illustrator Rachel Isadora was once a professional ballerina and later in life began to devote time to full-time writing, illustrating and painting. She wrote and illustrated the Caldecott Honor book Ben’s Trumpet. She also illustrated Shub’s books The White Stallion and Seeing is Believing.  The Shub-Isadora author/illustrator team worked well together!

For more information about Isadora and a lengthy list of the books she authored and illustrated: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Isadora

Books to further advance your studies:

The Real Book about Treasure Hunting – Hal Burton

The Pirate Book – Mickie Davidson

Pirates: Robbers of the High Seas – Gail Gibbons

The Golden Book of Buccaneers – John Gilbert

Pirates and Privateers – Edith McCall, Frontiers of America series

Pirate Chase – Earl Schenck Miers

Famous Pirates of the New World – A.B.C. Whipple, Landmark

Picture Book of New York – Bernadine Bailey

The Real Book about Gold – Harold Coy

The Story Book of Gold – Maud and Miska Petersham

Plants of Christmas – Hal Borland

Craft of Sail: A Primer of Sailing – Jan Adkins

Sailing with the Wind – Thomas Locker

Along the Seashore – Margaret Waring Buck

The Seashore Book – E. Smith Boyd

Moving Hills of Sand – Julian May

Shifting Sands: The Story of Sand Dunes – Ramona Mahur

Seashells of North America – R. Tucker Abbott

The First Book of Seashells – Betty Cavanna

The Junior Science Book of Seashells – Sam & Beryl Epstein

A First Look at Animals with Horns – Millicent Selsam

Long Spikes – Jim Arnosky

Here Come the Deer – Alice Goudey

Here Come the Cottontails – Alice Goudey

Rabbits, Rabbits and More Rabbits – Gail Gibbons

Cottontail Rabbit – Elizabeth & Charles Schwartz

Ringtail – Alice Crew Gall

Rascally Ringtails – J.M. Roever

Here Come the Raccoons – Alice Goudey

Atlantic Shore: Human and Natural History from Long Island to Labrador – John Hay

(All rights reserved. Please request permission before copying or publishing. 2019. Sandy Hall)

The Benefit of Biographies

The Benefit of Biographies 

             

Ride along on Hudson Taylor’s first voyage to China…trek through the virgin forests of Western Pennsylvania with George Washington, the young surveyor…painstakingly sew a flag with Betsy Ross…suffer the grief of a mother dying with young Abraham Lincoln…brave the dangers of going to a remote region of Africa with David Livingstone.

All of these adventures and more will be yours and your children’s as you read biographies aloud. But this isn’t the only benefit to reading biographies to your children. The true story of a great man or woman will set before your sons and daughters a wonderful example for them to follow. The heroes of today’s society are not fit to be copied, in my humble opinion. Noble men and women of the past and present as well as the great statesmen and patriots of our country’s heritage are worthy of presenting to our children.  Yes, they all had faults since none of us are perfect, but reading biographies helps us understand the backgrounds of these people’s lives that lead to the great feats they did and their amazing accomplishments.  We see how they overcame great difficulties and how early events in their lives affected their future deeds. Let’s raise our children’s dreams to those things that are noble and good, that are unselfish and of pure motive, that are full of worthy character to be emulated. All of this can be done by reading aloud biographies to them.

Reading the tales of great people also indirectly teaches history to your children. This is so much more effective than a straight historical account in a textbook. The people of history “come alive.” After all, what is history? The stories of people involved in the circumstances of life.

Many series of biographies are available today. Not everything you find though will be good for your family. Choose carefully. Remember that more biographies published currently will be different in perspective from those published in the first half of the 1900s.

Your children may take while to learn to really appreciate a good biography because this type of literature is rarely assigned or read today. Sadly! And when was the last time you read a biography?

Here are some series and authors I can highly recommend, many that are available in my library.

Early/middle elementary:

Childhood of Famous Americans biographies

Discovery biographies (also the World Explorers, Americans All, and Native Americans series by this same publisher)

Step-Up biographies

Genevieve Foster’s biographies

Middle/upper elementary:

Signature biographies

Some of the Landmark titles are biographies

Piper biographies

Opal Wheeler’s biographies

Clara Ingram Judson’s biographies

Sower series biographies – about great Christians

The Young….biographies

Men and Women of Faith series

Jean Lee Latham’s biographies

North Star biographies

Ronald Syme’s biographies

Upper elementary and up:

Messner biographies

Albert Marrin’s books – some of them are biographical

Immortals of History series

Makers of History series by Jacob Abbot and John S.C. Abbott

Makers of American History series by Jacob Abbott and John S.C. Abbott

Any others you would like to suggest?

(All rights reserved. 2019. Sandy Hall. Please ask permission before posting or publishing this blog elsewhere.)

Theodosia, Daughter of Aaron Burr by Anne Colver - a Book Review

Theodosia, Daughter of Aaron Burr by Anne Colver

Anne Colver was born in Cleveland, OH, in 1908, and died in 1991. She also wrote under the name Polly Anne Graff. Her books are written for middle/upper elementary; many biographies and some fiction, and some on her own and some with others.  She wrote or contributed to these titles among others:

Helen Keller, Crusader for the Blind and Deaf

Helen Keller: Toward the Light – a Discovery bio

Bread-and-Butter Indian

Bread-and-Butter Journey

The Wayfarer’s Tree

Abraham Lincoln – a Discovery bio

Mr. Lincoln’s Wife

Louisa May Alcott

Borrowed Treasure

Thomas Jefferson, Author of Independence – a Discovery bio

Florence Nightingale, War Nurse – a Discovery bio

Bad Jack and the Lincoln Boys

Squanto, Indian Adventurer – American Indian bio published by Garrard

Yankee Doodle Painter

Plato: Brave Lipizzaner Stallion

The Spirit of ‘76

Old Bet

Nobody’s Birthday

Shamrock Cargo: A Story of the Irish Potato Famine

Lucky Four

Listen for the Voices: A Novel of Concord

Secret Castle

Anne Colver was thirteen when she first heard of Theodosia Burr, and decided someday to write her biography….Theodosia, Daughter of Aaron Burr, was her very favorite out of all the books she wrote because the idea was her first for a book. Anne attended Friends School in Washington, D.C. and Pine Manor Junior College, then graduated from Whitman College in Washington state. After writing five mysteries, she turned to historical fiction. The Early American period, the era of the Burr family, was one of her specialties. At the time of the writing of this book, Anne lived in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, with her husband, Stewart Graff, a lawyer and writer, and their daughter Kate.

Theodosia, Daughter of Aaron Burr, was first published in 1941. The book is 182 pages long and is written on an upper elementary reading level.

This biography is divided into two parts: New York, 1783-1801; and Charleston 1801-1812. The book tells the story of the life of Theodosia, the daughter of Aaron Burr, and as we learn of her, we learn more about Aaron Burr from the perspective of his devoted daughter. The story begins with Theodosia being a young girl who is being schooled by her father to be an academic, disciplined learner. He made sure she was well-educated. He and she carried on beautiful letters to one another until her death. Quickly the story moves to her as a young woman who married Joseph Alston, a Southern man who eventually became the governor of South Carolina. At first as I read this, I thought maybe I wouldn’t keep the book, thinking that it was going to be a poorly written romance. But I’m so glad I didn’t give up on the story. Theodosia stayed loyal to her father through his political difficulties and throughout the criticism and trial after his duel with Alexander Hamilton. Through her eyes, the reader learns about the character of Aaron Burr, his personality, the suffering he endured, and his ultimate “self banishment.” The story is well-told and conveys so much about a little-known period of American history. Theodosia died young, supposedly in a shipping accident in 1812 during the beginning of the conflict of the War of 1812 as she traveled from South Carolina to be with her father as he returned to Boston from England.

I can highly recommend this book for those wanting to learn more about Aaron Burr, and his loving daughter Theodosia, and this turbulent period of American history.

Additional titles to add to your studies:

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr - Anna Erskine Crouse and Russel Crouse, Landmark Book

Wide World of Aaron Burr – Helen Orlob

Aaron Burr – William Wise

Strange Island – Marion Havighurst

Magnificent Adventure – Emerson Hough

River Pirates – Manly Wade Wellman

Alexander Hamilton – Jean Fritz

Alec Hamilton, The Little Lion – Helen Higgins, Childhood of Famous Americans

Duel! Burr and Hamilton’s Deadly War with Words – Dennis Fradin

First Book of the War of 1812 – Richard Morris

Story of the War of 1812 – Red Reeder

Pirates, Planters, and Patriots: The Story of Charleston, South Carolina – Janice Holland

South Carolina – Bernadine Bailey

Young Explorers’ New York: Maps of Manhattan – Lavinia Faxon

This is New York – M. Sasek

(All rights reserved. Sandy Hall 2018 – If you would like to copy this review and use it somewhere, please request permission. Thank you)

Angel Girl by Laurie Friedman, illustrations by Ofra Amit

Angel Girl by Laurie Friedman, illustrations by Ofra Amit

Book Review by Sandy Hall

“Herman lives in a labor camp. It is 1942, and the Nazis have made him a prisoner. He is forced to work long hours. His only food is soup made of water. Soon he loses the will to go on.

“Then she appears. A young girl on the other side of the barbed-wire fence – an angel girl, bearing food and hope in the most hopeless of times. She seems like a miracle.

“For Herman, the miracles have just begun…..

“Based on a true tale of survival, Angel Girl is a story of love, hope, and the strength of the human spirit.” (quoted from the dust jacket)

This beautiful story is told by Laurie Friedman and illustrated by Ofra Amit. Published in 2008, the book tells the story of a young Polish Jewish boy of eleven caught up in the events of World War II. His mother tells him to say he is sixteen when they are taken to a concentration camp. He lives and works in the camp with the men but gradually loses hope. A young girl outside the camp begins to appear each day and throws him an apple. When the camp is liberated, he never sees her again…..that is, until one day…….

You may want to watch this youtube video about this boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULcvUxd_Ngo. Although there has been much written and said about this story being untrue since the book was published, including Herman who later admitted it was not true, still it is a beautiful story. The book was removed from publication, which is probably why I found an ex-library copy at a thrift store. If it was reprinted without claiming to be a true story, it would perhaps then be an enjoyable read as fiction.

Laurie Friedman wanted to be an author since she was in third grade. She was born in 1964 and grew up in Arkansas. She attended Tulane University where she studied literature, and also studied at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. She spent many years writing for the advertising industry and as a free-lance writer for newspapers and magazines. Friedman has written many books for children including the Mallory McDonald chapter books and The Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair. I have not read or seen those but they seem to be typical modern realistic fiction. She writes, “It makes me feel better when I read about a character going through something similar to what I’m going through, and seeing how that character handles the situation.” Laurie also have written some rhyming children’s picture books.

Ofra Amit “has illustrated several children’s picture books in Israel…..Angel Girl is her first children’s picture book in the United States. She hopes the illustrations will help bring this inspiring story into readers’ hearts. Ms. Amit lives in Sede Warburg, Israel.” (from the dust jacket) She is one of Israel’s premiere illustrators and has won many awards. Her work is very modern and abstract which I don’t normally enjoy.  Her drawings of people’s faces are always with long noses and wide-set eyes. In the case of this book’s illustrations, these sad faces work perfectly with the text. She conveys the fear, struggles, and hopelessness of the concentration camp without being too vivid.

Over the years, many moms of elementary children have asked for books about the Holocaust that would be appropriate for their families. Often it’s difficult to find books that tell the story without being too harsh for younger, more sensitive children. I think there are two sides to this issue of exposure to such horrors. Those who died and those who survived should never be forgotten. The depravity of man can sink to a very low point which usually doesn’t help a child to know. And yet, these stories of survival, courage, and the strength of humankind in the worst of difficulties should be told. And stories like this the one in this book show the providence of God even in the hardest of circumstances. This book should definitely be pre-read by a parent before sharing it with your children. Then be ready to discuss the mature content in light of historic events. I think if my own children were young, I would wait until age 10 and older, even though this is a picture book. And we would read it along with our studies of world history and those tragic events.

Many years ago, I made a journey to Israel to study at the Jerusalem Institute of Holy Land Studies. Our group took a day to visit the Yad Vashem, a museum in honor of those Jews killed in the Holocaust as well as a memorial of the Gentiles who came to the aid of many Jews. Being there was a humbling experience, even for me as a young adult. How pampered we are with our “first-world problems.” I admired the courage of Gentiles who helped to hide Jews at the risk of their own lives. At the Yad Vashem, I saw children visiting with their families despite the utter terror of the large photos and videos. The Jews want their families to remember, to know. Perhaps we are a little too removed here in America, both geographically and historically, from this kind of persecution. I don’t know….it will be up to you as parents to know and to tell in your own time what happened there so long ago.

Other books have been written for children and young people on the Holocaust and World War II that show the awful, fearful side, but also tell of courage, survival, the struggles to rebuild, the sacrifices made for others. These books, I believe, help to balance the dark side of this historic event with light. I don’t think it hurts to think through how I would act in the same situations, and to help our children ponder that as well. Would I follow the example of those who faced the evil and countered it with good?

Another picture book along this theme that I have included in my library is Elisabeth by Claire A. Nivola. This book tells the story of a young Jewish girl who loved her doll very much but had to made the difficult decision to leave her behind when her family is forced to flee Germany during World War II. Eventually, that doll finds its way back to her. I highly recommend this title; it is less graphic about the Holocaust than Angel Girl  and still helps you see the providence of God in an amazing way.

Another picture book that I recommend is Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven, although it takes place just after World War II. When Stalin blocked all ground routes coming in and out of Berlin, Americans and Britains helped to fly in supplies. This is the true story of a seven-year-old girl and one of the pilots who brought hope to the children.

The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark, written by Carmen Agra Deedy, and illustrated by Henri Sorensen, retells the story in picture book form of King Christian and the Danish resistance to the Nazis in World War II. This story is a legend, and there is no proof this story is true, but it “has been passed down through the years as fact. It's a story about the kind of leader you always want to serve, who is thoughtful, intelligent, and loves his people. This is a great short story to use in the study of WWII.” (Amazon review)

Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto by Susan Goldman Rubin and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. “Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker, helped nearly four hundred Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto and into hiding during World War II.” (amazon review)

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II. When author/illustrator Lita Judge found hundreds of tracings of feet in her grandmother’s attic, she was intrigued and moved to share the story behind them. Judge bases this quiet, moving story of kindness and healing on her own family's history. After World War II, her grandparents organized a relief effort from their Midwest farm and sent care packages to more than 3,000 desperate people in Europe. In each spread, a young girl describes how she helps Mama with the packages. The stirring art in Judge's first picture book includes not only beautiful, full-page watercolor paintings of a family making a difference but also dramatic collages of black-and-white photos, newspaper cuttings, letters that Judge found in her grandparents' attic, and the foot tracings sent by Europeans desperate for shoes. There is no talk of the enemy. Judge focuses on the dramatic, realistic details of those in need ("We have only one pair of boots and must take turns") and the strength of those who fought "a battle to keep families alive" after the military battles were over. (amazon review)

The next step up from a picture book that I would recommend is the short chapter book The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin, illustrated by Peter Spier. "Take care of the little riders," says Johanna's father to the eleven-year-old when he leaves her with his parents for an extended vacation in their Dutch village. And Johanna does. She loves the twelve metal figures on horseback who ride forth each hour from the clock on the ancient church tower. She would do anything to protect them, anything. And on night she risks her life to prove it. Set during the Second World War when the German army occupied Holland, The Little Riders is an exciting, moving adventure story, just right for reading aloud. (Amazon review)

If you do find Angel Girl and read it, please let me know your thoughts.

(all rights reserved. Sandy Hall 4/7/2018. Please ask permission to publish this elsewhere. Thank you.)