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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Torn from his happy, music-loving parents in Poland, a young boy gains the attention of a camp commandant with his harmonica playing. Disgusted by the command performances, the boy ultimately finds hope in the music of Schubert, playing in memory of his parents and to nourish the souls of other prisoners who hear.
Warm tones give way to dark blues and grays in Ron Mazellan's gorgeous illustrations.
Warm tones give way to dark blues and grays in Ron Mazellan's gorgeous illustrations.
This is an appropriately sad book about World War II from the perspective of a Jewish boy imprisoned in a concentration camp. I read this as a pairing given to me, the second book being, Rose Blanche. War and Human Rights atrocities are difficult subjects to tackle, but I have found that children are more concerned and more ready to talk about these difficult subjects than adults realize. I would use these as read a loud books for children in 4th through 6th grade who are studying World War II or who might be talking about current events in Ukraine or Gaza. They would offer additional perspectives to children reading The Diary of Ann Frank or The Summer of My German Soldier, in the concise format of a picture book but with the emotional and historical context of a more mature child. As a National Park Ranger, I gave tours to all ages at a civil rights national historic site for many years. Children are aware of and concerned about human rights and social justice issues much earlier than I think many parents expect. I think this pairing of stories help show the different perspectives of children caught up in atrocities they had no role in creating but are deeply impacted by.
A gorgeous, achingly beautiful and devastatingly evocative picture book that is based on a true story. A boy lives happily with his parents , playing his harmonica and sharing a love of Schubert with one. One day the Nazis come and the family is split up, with the boy being taken to a concentration camp. There he is forced to play for the camp commandant and feels very guilty about this until he realises other prisoners love hearing his music. The way the illustrations change from warm tones to dark in the second half of the story is very clever and I'm not ashamed to say this book did bring a tear to my eye.
This is a great way to introduce children to the Holocaust. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. I really like this art work. The story is touching. It's written by a survivor of the Holocaust. The key to his childhood survival through a concentration camp was a harmonica his parents had given him and the beauty of the music. Very touching.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
A book about a Jewish boy, who lived through Holocaust, playing his harmonica for a German solider. Beautifully written and powerful.
Haunting and beautiful celebration of the power of music.
The Harmonica is inspired by the true story of a Holocaust survivor. It is reminiscent to me of the film, The Pianist, sharing the theme of the power of music in the darkest time. This historical picture book follows a Polish boy into the concentration camp, Dyhernfurth. There, he plays the harmonica his father gave to him. Though he is separated from his parents and forced to work in the camp, the boy plays the harmonica in the evenings for a Nazi general, thereby making himself valuable, but the music saves more than one life. Lovely illustrations and a moving story.