Status
Available
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Genres
Collection
Publication
Turtleback (2013), Edition: Bound for Schools & Libraries ed., 48 pages
Description
Hidden away in their Secret Annex in Amsterdam during World War II, Anne Frank and her family could not breathe fresh air or see the blue sky for years. But through an attic window Anne could see the branches of a tall chestnut tree. This small glimpse of nature gave Anne hope and courage. It inspired her writing, which, in turn, inspired the whole world. Jane Kohuth explores Anne Frank's strong belief in the healing power of nature in this Step 3 leveled reader biography for newly independent readers ages 5-8.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member MichelleNappi
The main idea of this book is to tell reader's about the life of Anne Frank while she hid in her Secret Annex during Nazi occupation in World War II. The book continually refers back to Anne's chestnut tree as a constant throughout the book. It discusses how Anne finds hope and comfort in her
I liked this book for many reasons. I thought that the author did an excellent job of discussing a tough and emotional issue in a way that young readers will be able to read about without being overwhelmed. She uses softer language to allow this tough issue to be understood by young people. For example, towards the end of the book, the text reads: "Anne did not survive the war. But her diary did...Millions of people have read Anne's words. Anne wrote, 'I want to go on living even after my death!' She has." Additionally, the book talks about how Anne's chestnut tree continued to live on and how people have cared for it and planted it's saplings over the years. In a way, this represents how Anne continues to live on. I found that the author's portrayal of this topic was very well done. She made sure to find hopeful and positive words for the readers to have as they read about this tough topic.
I also found the writing in this book quite meaningful and elegant. There were definitely some simple, beautiful moments throughout the book that I really appreciated. For example, one page reads: "In the world around her, Anne saw fighting and fear. But in the blue sky above, she saw beauty and peace. So she climbed up to the attic. The windows there were not covered. Anne looked out and saw the tall chestnut tree. She felt the sun on her face. Seeing the tree and sky calmed Anne. It helped her feel brave." I just find this writing simply beautiful. I also really enjoyed that the author incorporated some of Anne's writing into the text. One page reads: "She told [her diary] she felt like a bird trapped in a cage. 'Let me out, where there's fresh air and laughter!' she wrote." Another: "She wrote in her diary, 'I firmly believe that nature can bring comfort to all who suffer.'" This type of beautiful language makes the book that much more profound and meaningful for all readers.
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tree.I liked this book for many reasons. I thought that the author did an excellent job of discussing a tough and emotional issue in a way that young readers will be able to read about without being overwhelmed. She uses softer language to allow this tough issue to be understood by young people. For example, towards the end of the book, the text reads: "Anne did not survive the war. But her diary did...Millions of people have read Anne's words. Anne wrote, 'I want to go on living even after my death!' She has." Additionally, the book talks about how Anne's chestnut tree continued to live on and how people have cared for it and planted it's saplings over the years. In a way, this represents how Anne continues to live on. I found that the author's portrayal of this topic was very well done. She made sure to find hopeful and positive words for the readers to have as they read about this tough topic.
I also found the writing in this book quite meaningful and elegant. There were definitely some simple, beautiful moments throughout the book that I really appreciated. For example, one page reads: "In the world around her, Anne saw fighting and fear. But in the blue sky above, she saw beauty and peace. So she climbed up to the attic. The windows there were not covered. Anne looked out and saw the tall chestnut tree. She felt the sun on her face. Seeing the tree and sky calmed Anne. It helped her feel brave." I just find this writing simply beautiful. I also really enjoyed that the author incorporated some of Anne's writing into the text. One page reads: "She told [her diary] she felt like a bird trapped in a cage. 'Let me out, where there's fresh air and laughter!' she wrote." Another: "She wrote in her diary, 'I firmly believe that nature can bring comfort to all who suffer.'" This type of beautiful language makes the book that much more profound and meaningful for all readers.
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LibraryThing member abreck2
I think that this is a great book! One thing that I liked about this book was its subtitles included in the book. I liked how it was a picture book but included subtitles for different sections of the book. I think that this is a great way to help readers stay focused on what they are reading. For
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example, one section of the book was talking about when Anne Frank sat in her attic and looked at the chestnut tree outside, and that section was titled, "In the Attic." Another thing that I liked about this book was the illustrations. I liked how the text on each page was embedded in the illustrations. I think that gives a great text-to-visual aspect to the reader. It helps the reader connect the text that they are reading to something that they can actually see. I also like how the illustrations really capture the central message of the book. The central message of the book is that during hard times, one thing or even the littlest things can help one through a difficult time. Anne Frank focused on the chestnut tree that she could see outside of her window during the difficult times that she went through to help get her mind off of everything that was going on. Show Less
LibraryThing member eobend1
In my opinion, this is a great book to inform young readers about the story of Anne Frank. I liked this book because the illustrations are good representations of the written text. I love how the author included a map of the layout of Anne’s hiding place. I also liked how the illustrator used a
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wide range of colors in her illustrations. For example, on one page the illustration is of Anne in her hiding spot working on school work. The room is incredibly dark, but in the corner the door is slightly cracked open, letting in a touch of bright yellow light. This is a great way to show how trapped Anne feels. At one point, Anne is running up and down the stairs thinking to herself, “Let me out, where’s the fresh air and laughter!” and the image displays her looking up toward the bright light with a hopeless expression on her face. I like the author’s writing because it is realistic to that of how a young girl would think and feel when put in such a disheartening situation as Anne’s. The author mentions Anne’s hopes and fears throughout the book, and frequently includes excerpts that Anne wrote in her diary in real life. The big idea of this book is to inform readers about Anne Frank’s life during her two year hideaway. Show Less
LibraryThing member lruano
Anne Frank was a happy little Jewish girl. She lived a wonderful life she wrote, acted in plays, and always expressed her thoughts. But her life changed when the Nazis came she had to go hide in a secret annex which is in a attic.
LibraryThing member K_Rodriguez
Jane Kohuth did an incredible job with this biography of Anne Frank. It contains so much information and is easy for younger students to read. This book could be used to introduce students to basic information about Anne Frank and World War II.
LibraryThing member Ebutzn1
“Anne Frank’s Chestnut Tree” is a tragic, but informational story that I liked reading. This book is a great resource to use when teaching students about the Holocaust. In the story, Anne Frank is an engaging, real-life character hiding from the German invasion. From her perspective, readers
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can view the story, and its history, firsthand through her eyes. Clearly, this story pushes readers to think about tough issues, particularly the Holocaust tragedy, in a way that they are able to understand. The plot is easy to follow as Anne Frank writes about her life before the German’s invaded Holland, and her life hiding in the secret Annex. The main idea of this book is to inform readers about the history of the Holocaust and what Anne Frank’s life was like during this time. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
"Anne did not survive the war." Even in a book about Anne Frank written for early readers, it's remarkable the word Holocaust is never used. Lame and pointless.
ISBN
0606322302 / 9780606322300