Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (2007), Edition: Library Binding, 32 pages
Description
After many years of watching the solemn lighting of seven candles at Rosh Hashanah, Eli finally learns how those candles represent his family's connection to the Holocaust in Lithuania.
Awards
Florida Book Award (Bronze Medal — Children's Literature — 2007)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2008)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
This picture book is a wonderful introduction to the holocaust. It begins with Eli wondering why his great-grandmother lights candles for the Jewish New Year. In order for him to understand, his family takes him to the Lithuanian village were his great-grandmother lived as a child. Then, they drive
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through the forest to the pit, where 80,000 Jews, including her father and siblings, were shot dead by the Nazi's. Well illustrated, the pictures contrast the boy's home life with the bleak forest. Overall, this is a wonderful book, appropriate for all ages. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kathdavis54
Eli's relatives are always sad about something during big Jewish holidays. No one will ever discuss it with him. One day his family goes on a trip and he learns more about his family's past and about remembering.
LibraryThing member kzrobin
This book was about the Jewish people that were killed during World War II by the Nazis. It was based on a true story of a young boy Ely. This would be a great story to share with a fourth through right grade class. It will give them an idea of how the Jews that were killed are remembered by their
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families today. The authors note at the end of this book is very significant to the history behind the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member rwalsh06
Every Jewish New Year, Eli's family sits around a table in sadness lighting candles and sheading tears. Eli does not understand until his family tells him about the Holocaust and his relatives that died. This story softens the story of the Holocaust for young children, even though it is still a sad
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story. Show Less
LibraryThing member anunez1
In my opinion I liked this book because of three reasons. First, I enjoyed the word choices of the author. Throughout the book the author had a way of bringing the scene to life and making me feel the sadness described during the lighting of the seven candles. Secondly, I was blown away by the
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close up picture of Eli's face followed by a dark gray sky. These two images struck me hard as I realized what Eli now knew about this horrific portion of his family history. These images also paired with the words of the text brought great meaning to the text. Lastly, I enjoyed this book because of the recognition given to a particular family this story was inspired by. In the author's notes she states that the co-writer's family is the one they were remembering through the telling of this story. With this in mind, it comes to show how someones personal history can impact others on a grand scale. The message being told by this story is that our history impacts the present day. Without reflecting on the past, we are not able to fully progress towards the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member LexaGoldbeck
I think this book was really powerful. I like how blunt the story can be in the sense that not only is it said that "80,000 Jews were killed" in general, but also the fact that, "And then they fell....into this put. The next day their bodies were burned, some of them being children of your age and
The big idea of this book is the importance of family and knowing your history. Eli was always confused on Rosh Hashanah when his family would be sad during a time of celebration. However, when his family finally came out and said, "80,000 Jews were killed here during World War II and your great-grandmother's father and her six brothers and sisters were killed here. This is their grave." It hit Eli that Rosh Hashanah was much more than just a tradition, celebration, and custom to their family, it was also a day of remembrance and a day to show respect for all the lives that were lost.For example, at the end, after his family explained to him the history of Ponar Forest, Eli lays 7 roses on the ground, walk up to his grandpa and says, "it's okay Grandpa, it won't be a secret anymore. I'll always remember." All of this goes back to the importance of knowing your families past and showing respect.
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younger." That is a lot for a student to take in, but it is knowledge they should be aware about because these things did happen. I don't think the information was sugar-coated, again for the reasons/examples above. Which is a good thing also. Lastly, another thing I like about this story is the author's note in the back where the events at the Ponar Forest were explained and at the end it states, this book is based on actual events, inspired by coauthor Marian Sneider's grandson Ely Sandler. This story was also the subject of a British television documentary, which first aired in May 2004." I like this because it shows that these events were real and that things like this did happen back in the day. Also, I like how the author's note gives prior background/goes in depth a little more about the Ponar Forest. For example, "The ponar forest is a thickly wooded place located six miles from the capital city of Vilinus, Lithuania......when the Nazis occupied Lithuania during World War II , they began using the Ponar Forest as a killing field, and the pits became graves for between 70,000 and 100,000 people, mostly Jews."The big idea of this book is the importance of family and knowing your history. Eli was always confused on Rosh Hashanah when his family would be sad during a time of celebration. However, when his family finally came out and said, "80,000 Jews were killed here during World War II and your great-grandmother's father and her six brothers and sisters were killed here. This is their grave." It hit Eli that Rosh Hashanah was much more than just a tradition, celebration, and custom to their family, it was also a day of remembrance and a day to show respect for all the lives that were lost.For example, at the end, after his family explained to him the history of Ponar Forest, Eli lays 7 roses on the ground, walk up to his grandpa and says, "it's okay Grandpa, it won't be a secret anymore. I'll always remember." All of this goes back to the importance of knowing your families past and showing respect.
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LibraryThing member jmistret
"Eli Remembers" brings us on a very long journey in a short amount of time. The book begins with Eli, a young Jewish boy, asking about the seven candles that his Great-grandmother Gussie lights. He wonders why over the years, every time some one in his family lights these seven candles, someone has
The setting of this book really puts everything into perspective. We start out at Eli's home celebrating what is supposed to be a happy time and eventually move to Ponar Forest in Lithuania. The illustrations are very dark and gloomy. The only color we see is the color of the roses that Eli's mother brought to the pit. Because of the setting, I was able to place myself in the book and really feel what Eli and his family were feeling. As soon as I saw and read about where they were, my feelings and facial expressions changed just as Eli's did. The theme of this book gave us more insight as to what went on during the Holocaust and how so many lives were lost and effected.
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tears running down their face. When he finally gets the answer, he "felt like somebody was hitting his chest." The seven candles represented the six siblings and father of Gussie that were killed by Nazis. The setting of this book really puts everything into perspective. We start out at Eli's home celebrating what is supposed to be a happy time and eventually move to Ponar Forest in Lithuania. The illustrations are very dark and gloomy. The only color we see is the color of the roses that Eli's mother brought to the pit. Because of the setting, I was able to place myself in the book and really feel what Eli and his family were feeling. As soon as I saw and read about where they were, my feelings and facial expressions changed just as Eli's did. The theme of this book gave us more insight as to what went on during the Holocaust and how so many lives were lost and effected.
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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Every year at Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - Eli's great-grandmother Gussie would light seven candles at their family dinner, saying a prayer and weeping. After his great-grandparents died, Eli's grandparents and parents continued the tradition. Concerned by the grief which accompanied this
Based upon the experiences of co-author Mariam Sneider's own family, Eli Remembers is a powerful book about family secrets, and the grief and trauma that is passed down through the generations. It is often the case that such trauma is most deeply felt at the holidays, when families traditionally gather, and the absence of those who are missing is most painful. Vander Zee and Sneider capture that reality here, in their story, and I found myself tearing up at more than one point, while reading. The text is fairly simple, and is told from Eli's perspective, giving it an immediacy and emotional impact that is most powerful. The accompanying illustrations from Bill Farnsworth, done in oil paint, are lovely, and beautifully capture the emotional register of each scene. The close family circle, gathered in both celebration and grief; the joy of Eli welcoming his grandparents to his own home; the bleakness of Ponar Forest in winter - these are all captured in the artwork. The most powerful scene, for me, was the two-page spread in which Eli and his grandfather are speaking, looking down upon the mass grave. The artwork has drawn back from its depiction of Eli and his family, and depicts a vast, dark forest in winter, under a gloomy sky. The text above reads: "Were children killed too?" / "Yes," Grandpa said. / "My age?" / "Yes, your age and younger." / I felt as gray as the sky."
Ideally, a picture-book is a work in which text and artwork seamlessly blend, working together to tell a story. Eli Remembers is a perfectly accomplished example of this, with textual and illustrative elements perfectly in tune, making this one of my rare five-star books. It is a powerful story, about a powerful and horrifying subject, and it is told with great skill by both authors and artist. Highly recommended, to anyone seeking picture-books with which to introduce young children to the subject of the Holocaust.
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observance, Eli asked questions, but was continually told that "some things are too difficult to talk about." Then one winter he accompanied his parents and grandparents on a trip to Lithuania, where his great-grandmother was born. Here they journeyed to Ponar Forest, and to the mass grave where Gussie's father and six brothers were murdered. Finally understanding the source of his family's grief, Eli himself said a prayer, and assured his grandfather that now it would not have to be a secret - now he would always remember...Based upon the experiences of co-author Mariam Sneider's own family, Eli Remembers is a powerful book about family secrets, and the grief and trauma that is passed down through the generations. It is often the case that such trauma is most deeply felt at the holidays, when families traditionally gather, and the absence of those who are missing is most painful. Vander Zee and Sneider capture that reality here, in their story, and I found myself tearing up at more than one point, while reading. The text is fairly simple, and is told from Eli's perspective, giving it an immediacy and emotional impact that is most powerful. The accompanying illustrations from Bill Farnsworth, done in oil paint, are lovely, and beautifully capture the emotional register of each scene. The close family circle, gathered in both celebration and grief; the joy of Eli welcoming his grandparents to his own home; the bleakness of Ponar Forest in winter - these are all captured in the artwork. The most powerful scene, for me, was the two-page spread in which Eli and his grandfather are speaking, looking down upon the mass grave. The artwork has drawn back from its depiction of Eli and his family, and depicts a vast, dark forest in winter, under a gloomy sky. The text above reads: "Were children killed too?" / "Yes," Grandpa said. / "My age?" / "Yes, your age and younger." / I felt as gray as the sky."
Ideally, a picture-book is a work in which text and artwork seamlessly blend, working together to tell a story. Eli Remembers is a perfectly accomplished example of this, with textual and illustrative elements perfectly in tune, making this one of my rare five-star books. It is a powerful story, about a powerful and horrifying subject, and it is told with great skill by both authors and artist. Highly recommended, to anyone seeking picture-books with which to introduce young children to the subject of the Holocaust.
Show Less
ISBN
0802853099 / 9780802853097