Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Philomel (2006), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 40 pages
Description
In Belgium during World War II, Willy becomes friends with Max and his Jewish family, and although they become separated, they remain related by a bond of friendship and a special painting.
Subjects
Awards
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Mass Import -- Pending Differentiation)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2010)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (Intermediate — 2008)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member STBA
This heartwarming tale of kindness, truth, honesty, and friendship during the Holocaust also introduces readers to the widespread theft and looting by the Nazis of artwork belonging to European Jews.
LibraryThing member Kel18
Like the illustrations, and the story
LibraryThing member kzrobin
This would be a good book to share with a class when discussing the Holocaust. It talks about how people were forced out of their homes and were robbed of everything they had that was valuable. It also shows the reuniting of friends at the end of the book.
LibraryThing member klmontgomery
This book is about two friends, Willy and Max, who form an unbreakable friendship from a painting. It is a story of hope and friendship. It does not go into any gruesome details about what actually happened during the Holocaust, so it would be perfect for young children. I will definitely have this
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book in my classroom library. Show Less
LibraryThing member malindahodgson
It is about two little boys who were best friends. The boys were separated during WWII, and a single picture kept their friendship alive. This is yet another story about kids that can break anyone's heart!!!
LibraryThing member awhite43
I thought “Willy and Max” by Amy Littlesugar was a great book about enduring friendship. I really enjoyed the fact that the book was set during WWII, a period of history that I find very interesting. I also liked that the book is written from the viewpoint of a young boy describing his
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grandfather’s childhood friendship, making the story feel more real even though it is a fictional piece. The illustrations are also very detailed and do a great job of recreating the locations in Antwerpen where the events described occur. I enjoyed the fact that Willy meets Max, by chance, at the store while his father is shopping and the descriptions of the two playing hide and seek in the store while their fathers form their own friendship. The author also does a great job of foreshadowing the impending war continually as it parallels the boys friendship. The fact that Professor Solomon leaves the painting with Willy’s father and that Willy is able to find Max’s family again emphasized the importance of friendship which really is the main theme of this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member engpunk77
Despite the glaring grammar/usage errors (i.e. "Max could whistle good"), this was a touching short story that taught me about organizations who endeavor to reunite stolen art during the Holocaust with their rightful owners. I had never realized before that Nazis stole what they wanted (uncontested
Disclaimer: I even cry during Cheerios commercials; I'm not guaranteeing anything.
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& unstoppable) even from the population against whom they did NOT discriminate. I guess I've only seen Nazis from the victims' perspectives or from the objective (relatively) survey courses I've taken, so these details were left out. Even though this story was so short, it had gorgeous paintings, taught me something I didn't already know, and made me cry. Disclaimer: I even cry during Cheerios commercials; I'm not guaranteeing anything.
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ISBN
0399234837 / 9780399234835