Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti, Christophe Gallaz, Martha Coventry (Translator), Richard Graglia (Translator)
Requirements: ePUB Reader | 13.5MB | Version: Retail
Overview: Rose Blanche is a disturbing picture book that deals with the horrors of the holocaust, however it is not from the viewpoint we are familiar with. This book is clever in many ways as it taps into the understanding (or lack of) of a young girl, Rose Blanche. As the streets of her home-town fill up with soldiers and tanks Rose knows something serious is to occur. After following one of the tanks into the forest Rose uncovers a Nazi concentration camp and forms a bond with the prisoners from across a razor sharp divide. This book shows the compassion and kindness of Rose as she tries to alleviate the hunger pains felt by many, but she is only a child. Unfortunately, on one visit Rose meets her demise as she is violently shot in the forest. Leaving no one to come to the aid of the prisoners and a distraught mother. As time passes the field where blood was shed soon returns to a glorious meadow of flowers, similar to that of Flanders Fields.
This is a harrowing yet moving story, which is suitable for older children. However, I heed caution as the images depicted and the discussions that can arise from this book are of a very sensitive nature and children may not understand all of its elements.
Ideally this book would need to be unpacked and explored with reference to it’s historical context. It has strong cross curricular links with writing and History, as well as PSHE and philosophy for children. From my experience when teaching this book to year six it deeply affected some of the children. A handful were upset by the atrocities, whilst others were simply intrigued as to why such an act could even occur. Either way the class learned something that allowed them to think and empathise.
Genre: Childrens > Picture Books | World War II > Holocaust
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