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Karen E.
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| Posted: Oct 03 2006 at 9:29pm | IP Logged
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We've just finished Hilda van Stockum's The Borrowed House (which we all loved) and I don't yet have The Winged Watchman, which I thought would be our next read aloud.
Our library, however, has When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Judith Kerr.
Has anyone read this? What did you think?
Thanks!
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Karen E.
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Patty LeVasseur
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| Posted: Oct 04 2006 at 12:23pm | IP Logged
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I have this book. I asked my two older boys (14 and 13) if they had read it and they both told me they had started it, but didn't finish it. (That is very unusual for them.) So I can't tell you if they liked it or not, but just that it didn't hold their interest.
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Oct 04 2006 at 1:04pm | IP Logged
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same here. i borrowed it from the library and it sat by the fireplace for 2 whole months. neither the 15-yo nor the 10-yo picked it up. they did read escape from warsaw. oh, and they LOVED the winged watchman.
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ALmom
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| Posted: Oct 04 2006 at 4:38pm | IP Logged
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How Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is about a family in exhile from Hitler and it is OK but not nearly as riveting as either of the Bethlehem Books. I just don't think it had a lot of action in it - mostly from a young girl's point of view and while we read it, it simply did not hold our interest. On the other hand, The Winged Watchman is read and re-read and read again. It is currently our evening read aloud (about the 10th time we've been through the book) and it holds the attention of all of mine (boys and girls ranging in age from 4 - 14). I will admit the 4 yo generally falls asleep as we are reading but that's OK cause I know we'll read it again and again. Personally, I'd invest in The Winged Watchman. There wasn't anything wrong really with Why Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and you could check it out and take a peek at it while you are waiting for the other to come in - but I wouldn't bother to purchase it. (just my opinion, though).
Oh, if you ever find a hardback copy of The Winged Watchman, nab it. My paper copy got very dog eared with everyone stealing it off to their rooms to read ahead!
Janet
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Kelly
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| Posted: Oct 04 2006 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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We've read and re-read the "Winged Watchman". Great book. That being said, my dc have also read and re-read "Pink Rabbit". Go figure. They really liked it. But my vote would still lie with "Winged Watchman".
Have you read any of the Mitchell books by Hilda van Stockum? "Five for Victory" is also wonderful-and touches on WWII as the Mitchell father goes overseas to serve in the military, and the children form a friendship with a refuge child who moves in across the street from them. Another Five Star book from Mrs. van Stockum.
Kelly in FL
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Kathryn UK
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| Posted: Oct 05 2006 at 3:02am | IP Logged
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I haven't read Pink Rabbit, but I did read the last book in the trilogy - interesting, but written at a more adult level than Pink Rabbit, I think. Totally off topic for World War II, but we love Judith Kerr's picture books - The Tiger That Came To Tea, and a series about Mog the cat ("Ramona" would adore these!).
Don't miss Escape From Warsaw (or The Silver Sword at it is titled here). It is one of those books that has stuck with me from my own childhood. I re-read it recently to check it out for reading to my 11yo, and it is still good 
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Oct 06 2006 at 7:04pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I guess it won't hurt to get it from the library and try it, based on the mixed reviews here.
Our copy of Winged Watchman should be here any day now.
Thanks so much!
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Karen E.
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Oct 16 2006 at 8:44am | IP Logged
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We ended up filling in with some non-fiction, and a walk through Welcome to Molly's World.
At this point, we've only just started Pink Rabbit (got it from the library), but so far we like it. Blogged on it this a.m.
And, Janet, I found a very cool old hardcover copy of The Winged Watchman! Can't wait to dive in to that one!
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Karen E.
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ALmom
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| Posted: Oct 16 2006 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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Karen, 
You'll love it and be so glad you have it hard copy.
Janet
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Erin
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| Posted: Oct 16 2006 at 11:53pm | IP Logged
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Another title set in WW11 in Holland that my children loved was The Little Riders
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teachingmom
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| Posted: Oct 17 2006 at 10:56pm | IP Logged
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Karen,
Have you seen this WWII picture book yet?
The Cats in Krasinski Square
I came across it in my library awhile back. Just from a quick perusal, I thought it looked interesting and made a mental note to check it out when we hit WWII in our history studies. Which may be after Christmas, when we finish in ancient Rome. I'd love to see your final list of WWII books that you and the girls enjoyed when you move on from that era.
Edited to add:
I found two more picture books while on the Amazon website looking for the above listed book. They both look good.
The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II
The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey
(This one dovetails nicely with Mary G's Curious George unit!)
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Oct 18 2006 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the recommendations, Irene!
I also just found one at our library that moved me to tears:
Erika's Story
Also
(though I haven't previewed these yet):
Forging Freedom (which fits in nicely with some plot elements from The Borrowed House)
The Hidden Children
The Cat with the Yellow Star
Our library has quite a few more, and I could see us staying in this era for a long time.
Although, my oldest recently said that perhaps she needed a break from WWII because she had a dream the other night that she wanted to write a story, but couldn't -- because paper was being rationed. 
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Karen E.
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MarilynW
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We did a 2nd WW unit last year - some of the books we read that are not mentioned above are
1) Twenty and Ten - Claire Bishop (French kids hiding Jewish children from the Nazis)
2) Number the Stars - Lois Lowry (Nazi occupation of Denmark)
3) The Secret Seder - Doreen Rappaport (Jews in Paris)
4) Snow Treasure - Marie McSwigan (Nazi occupation of Norway)
The first two in particular are family favorites. We also love The Winged Watchman.
Marilyn
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teachingmom
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| Posted: Oct 18 2006 at 10:38pm | IP Logged
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Karen E. wrote:
I also just found one at our library that moved me to tears:
Erika's Story |
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Wow. And I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes from just reading the blurbs on the Amazon website!
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Oct 18 2006 at 11:15pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Erin! My library has that one as well as one of the books Irene mentioned.
MarilynW wrote:
We did a 2nd WW unit last year - some of the books we read that are not mentioned above are
1) Twenty and Ten - Claire Bishop (French kids hiding Jewish children from the Nazis)
2) Number the Stars - Lois Lowry (Nazi occupation of Denmark)
3) The Secret Seder - Doreen Rappaport (Jews in Paris)
4) Snow Treasure - Marie McSwigan (Nazi occupation of Norway) |
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Marilyn, thanks for additional titles. My library has both of those, too! Oh, I'm feeling rich. 
We read Twenty and Ten and Number the Stars last month and we loved both of them. We watched the video "Miracle at Moreaux" (based on Twenty and Ten -- Have you seen it? So much of the book was changed, and I was really disappointed by that, but my kids decided that it was "a pretty good movie" ... it just wasn't Twenty and Ten.
We are all enjoying "Pink Rabbit" immensely, though we did have to skip one short passage today -- disturbing details about the treatment of a prisoner. But other than that, we're racing through it. I think it's wonderfully written.
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Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Nov 28 2006 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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Just wanted to thank:
Marilyn for the recommendations on Snow Treasure and The Secret Seder
Irene for Cats in Krasinski Square
Erin for The Little Riders
We really enjoyed all of these. I finished reading Little Riders to the girls this morning, and I was in tears. What a beautiful story, esp. regarding the German officer living in their house ... don't want to ruin it for anyone, but will just say that this book, in 76 short pages, touches on faith and loyalty, bravery, as well as what it means to have the heart of an artist. Just lovely.
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Karen E.
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Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
