The searing, beautiful illustrations of acclaimed artist Roberto Innocenti capture the fear, love, and sadness of a Holocaust survivor's tale in this story of a Jewish couple who make a heart-rending decision so that their infant daughter might live. Based on a true story.
a work of art and love I found myself speechless, ....everything about this book it is simply beautiful and exquisite...the story, the illustrations, the binding, the design, ...a work of art an love.
Erika's Story Readers familiar with Rose Blanche, Roberto Innocenti's illustrated story about the Holocaust, will again be impressed with the outstanding illustrations in this new children's book on the same theme. A fascinating author's note on the first page explains Ruth Vander Zee's accidental meeting with a woman sitting next to her in the town square of Rothenburg, Germany in 1995. Zee chats about her recent Israel trip with the amiable woman after noticing a Star of David around her neck. The story that follows is the woman's story, whose name is Erika. The story she relates is entirely new to the genre of illustrated books about the Holocaust. The style is spare and emotionally quite powerful. Erika was born in 1944 and was an infant as her mother boarded a cattle car and headed for certain death. Erika states, "I wonder where she stood. Was she in the middle of the car? Was my father next to her? Did he tell her to be brave? Did they talk about what to do? When did they make their decision?" The astonishing decision, one that few can ever contemplate, is related like this: "What happened next is the only thing I know for sure....My mother threw me from the train." The amazing illustration of a pink blanketed, swaddled baby flying from a train window toward an onlooker on a bicycle demands pause. Contrasted with the dark greys of the cattle car and train tracks, it reminds one of the little girl in the red coat in Schindler's List, and it has the same effect. Erika goes on to finish the rest of her story of how she was brought up in Germany by a woman who risked her life to do so, but we are left feeling that Erika has had to overcome a very powerful sadness. The book does end on a hopeful note, however, as Erika relates that her own children now have grandchildren and that it seems that her family may identify as Jews, although that is not stated. One quibble with the design of the book involves the use of the star motif. The designer has used small black Stars of David to separate paragraphs and create a more poetic narration. A small 5-pointed yellow star is also used appealingly as a hopeful sign on the book's last page. But the cover of the book is designed as a cut-out with a large 5 pointed yellow star which is clearly trying to represent the yellow stars Jews wore in the Holocaust. Why is this star not 6 points? There is something essentially wrong with this cover representation. But, despite this flaw, the book is highly recommended for readers 10 years and older, wherever illustrated books on Holocaust are used. Reviewed by Lisa Silverman
A Powerful Story of a Mother's Love Erika's story is short and isn't some huge epic fantasy story.
But it's just as and maybe even more powerful than many epic fantasy stories.
Though it may appear to be a toddler's book, it's suitable for all ages, because of its universal lesson: love is stronger than hate or fear.
The book itself may be short, but, combined with the hypnotic illustrations, that only adds to its haunting effect. Because of its shortness, we get more focus on the point of the story, and the emotions, without distractions to make us lose our focus.
Robert Innocenti has a simple yet intense drawing style that pulls you right into the drawing and add an emotional touch to the atmosphere. You feel transported right into the picture. Each illustration is gloomy and sketched in shades of gray, except for the more joyous aspects of the picture. For example, when Erika's mother is throwing her from the train, the baby is coloued in pink against a background drawn with shades of gray.
And there is a high, poignant, almost triumphant illustration of Erika at an older age, staring at a train in front of her house. We can't see her face, so you can only wonder what is on her mind.
The image is all drawn in colour.
I started crying in the library when I read this book. That's the amount of power it holds.
Powerful and Moving I read through this book today at the library where I work, and I had a tough time holding myself together afterwards. I cannot remember when I last read a book--adult OR children's--that touched me as deeply as "Erika's Story." Erika's parents gave up the baby they loved to give her a chance at life...and she got to live, to grow up and have children of her own. Even at a time when part of the world was mad with evil and hate...there still was courage, and good, and love.
Highly, highly recommended.
Erika's Story--An Excellent Tool for Teachers Erika's Story is a wonderful way to motivate students of ALL ages to learn about the Holocaust. I read this book to my 8th grade Social Studies class and asked them to imagine what it must have been like for Erika's mother to make such a painful decision. Includes stirring imagery and thought-provoking content.
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