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"Caldecott Honoree and Sibert Medalist Peter Sís honors a man who saved hundreds of children from the Nazis. In 1938, twenty-nine-year-old Nicholas Winton saved the lives of almost 700 children trapped in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia-a story he never told and that remained unknown until an unforgettable TV appearance in the 1980s reunited him with some of the children he saved. Czech-American artist, MacArthur Fellow, and Andersen Award winner Peter Sís dramatizes Winton's story in this distinctive and deeply personal picture book. He intertwines Nicky's efforts with the story of one of the children he saved-a young girl named Vera, whose family enlisted Nicky's aid when the Germans occupied their country. As the war passes and Vera grows up, she must find balance in her dual identities-one her birthright, the other her choice. Nicky & Vera is a masterful tribute to a humble man's courageous efforts to protect Europe's most vulnerable, and a timely portrayal of the hopes and fears of those forced to leave their homes and create new lives."--… (more)
User reviews
Nicholas Winton didn't talk about the many lives he saved until his quiet, courageous and awe-inspiring accomplishments were revealed by books, (one by Gissling), a film, the news media, and his wife finding his old documents.
Peter Sis focuses on the positives of Winton's and Vera's lives, from childhood through adulthood. Seems they both had loving, supportive families, friends and teachers, and stable childhoods. And perhaps Sis is explaining how for many of us that could make the difference in how people view the world. To me its makes sense that a direct link between a secure and well-balanced childhood would lead to developing intelligent, sympathetic, and caring individuals.
Sis' writing style is calm but powerful. His illustrations are fine.