Cover Image: Anne Frank

Anne Frank

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Thank you Quatro Publishing and Net Galley for the free review copy. The illustrations in this book really set the tone for the story. They add a lot to the writing. I love biographies for children, and this series by Isabel Sanchez Vegara is great. Anne Frank's story is presented in a clear way for young readers. This book is an excellent introduction to Anne Frank's story, and it's the kind of book that will spark an interest for kids to want to learn more. I think these are great books for kids who have an interest in nonfiction. I would definitely recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

A book many of us, have read when we were at school or even when we were older was a book about Anne Frank. This Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara is just a WoW.
It has beautiful illustrations throughout and everyone tells a story. It has short paragraphs about the story of a young Jewish girl who had to go in hiding when Germany goes to War, this became the Second World War. This book follows Anne's diary. You will learn the horrific story of the Holocaust through the eyes of a young child and how she lived everyday of her short life.

This is the first book I have read of the Little People, Big Dreams and I found it a wonderful little book and a "Must" for a young child to learn about is Anne Frank, and then go on to read the whole diary of Anne Frank when they are older.
This is one story that should be told to all children at school etc.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The "Little People, Big Dreams" series is one of my favourite non fiction series available for children to learn about some of the most important people in history.

This book introduces Anne Frank - I did wonder how much detail the story would go in to as her story is very sad but it is done very well and with just enough information to allow children to ask questions and go off and learn more about Anne, the Nazi party and Adolf Hitler and WWII should they wish. I do feel that it is vital that her story is shared.

I have been lucky enough to visit the Anne Frank House on two occasions now and if anyone that reads this book is tempted to visit - do it - it really does make you realise exactly what they family went through and it certainly brings her diary to life.

Was this review helpful?

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Little People Big Dreams: Anne Frank is an excellent introductory biography about Anne Frank. Hitler and the Holocaust are hard topics to talk about to children, much less explain, and this biography doesn't attempt to do either. While these topics are essential to Anne's story, we get only a basic introduction to the horrors of the Second World War-the book's primary focus is on Anne. At the very end, there is a list of titles that readers can turn to for more information.
I loved the illustrations. Little People Big Dreams usually produce lovely illustrations but this addition to the series really stands out. Everything is done in grayscale, reflecting not only the photographs of the time but also the bleakness of World War Two. The only color found in the story is Anne's diary. I loved the use of birds throughout the book-they way they flew about highlighted the fact that Anne and her family were not free to go where they pleased.

Was this review helpful?

Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Little People, Big Dreams series, is a really nice introduction to Anne Frank.  This is an early picture book biography. The story is a very simplified version of the diary of Anne Frank. The pictures are cartoony, yet match the photos we have of her.

I enjoyed the illustrations that accompany the telling of Anne's story and how her diary came to be published, and also the short section at the back with a greater level of detail that may be more suited towards older readers. 

The story begins with some background to who Anne was (an ordinary girl) when she received her diary, and the historical events that led up to Anne and her family having to hide in the secret annex of a warehouse.

The focus of the book thereafter remained heavily on the diary and how Anne dreamed of becoming a writer. Due to her early death at the Bergen-Belsen camp in 1945, it was her father Otto (the only secret annex survivor) had her diary published so her story may be shared with readers forever. This fact, alongside others are shared in the books end pages which also includes a timeline of Anne's life and where to find more information about her.

I received an e-ARC from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens via NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Part of the Little People, Big Dreams series, this book is about Anne Frank. It is aimed at young children and is a much abbreviated telling of Anne’s life. It inevitably has to look at anti-Semitism and what happened to Anne but it keeps its subject matter as suitable as possible to its age range – there are no descriptions of the concentration camps or what happened there just that it was ‘the worst place on Earth’. There may be a few questions for parents when reading this book (regarding why Hitler hated the Jews and what happened to Anne) but it generally keeps a very tragic tale age-appropriate for this series of books but you may want to read it first to make that judgement yourself before showing it to young children. The illustrations are mostly black and white and have a darker tone to other books in the series but this is not surprising. Anne Frank’s tale is a difficult one to tell to young children but the author makes a valiant attempt. Ultimately though the book is ‘the story of a little girl who dreamt of a better world’.

Was this review helpful?

In keeping with the “Little People, Big Dreams” series, this is a small children’s book on one of history’s most tragic figures.
Right away there’s facts most people don’t know; for example, she was born in Germany and had a sister, two facts I was unaware of.
The shot of her looking up at the “camera” was disconcerting, but then this isn’t supposed to be roses and unicorns. There’s a bird motif that comes off as both sweet and sinister.
After the story is over there’s a timeline, repeating the text but this time with photos instead of drawings.
Especially poignant if you’ve ever been to the museum in Amsterdam.

Was this review helpful?

The first time I read The Diary of Anne Frank, I was in 8th grade. We read it out loud in class and I remember always volunteering to read Anne's part. I loved reading, I loved the idea of being a writer, and I was inspired by Anne's positive outlook in the midst of probably the worst time in world history. This book aimed at introducing Anne Frank's story to younger kids does a fantastic job of staying sensitive through the wording of the book, but without downplaying what happened to Anne. I thought the black and white pictures with the dairy always displayed in color was a beautiful choice and help portray the fact that this was a dark time in history, but to Anne that Diary was her bright spot. I highly recommend Little People Big Dreams: Anne Frank to absolutely anyone. I think just like Anne's diary, this is a must read for everyone.

Was this review helpful?

Another wonderful addition to the Little People library. Anne Frank's short life is explained in short paragraphs and wonderful illustrations.

Was this review helpful?

A great little book to introduce children to Anne Frank. The illustrator does an amazing job with the illustrations while the author captures the essence of Anne Frank's life yet the mentioning of the war and the Holocaust is done tactfully. In a way, not enough to show what the horror of the WWII did to the Franks and many other Jews but it isn't the focus of the Little People, Big Dreams series anyway.

I love how the illustrator retains the bright personality of Anne Frank because every Anne's illustrations in the book have her memorable smile. A must read!

Was this review helpful?

This is another great book of the series little people, big dreams. I really like this book, although it's not one of my favourites. The illustrations are beautiful, but they are mostly in black and white. I believe that goes really well with the story, but it's not very attractive for your kids. The story flows well, but given the topic and the illustrations I think it's better suited for older kids in the recommended rage, and not so much for 4 year-olds.

Thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

What a wonderful book to introduce Anne Frank to young readers. The beautiful illustrations, other than Anne’s diary, are in black and white reflecting the horror of the Holocaust. The book explains Anne and her family’s plight of living in the Nazi era in an age appropriate way and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Was this review helpful?

This tragic tale is beautifully illustrated. I wouldn't recommend it for a quick casual read. It's a worthy introduction to discussing the Holocaust with a child, but a book like this really deserves a discussion alongside it.

Was this review helpful?

Anne Frank, despite - or because of? - her young age at the time she wrote her diary, is one of the best known female writers. Her story is heartbreaking and it deserved to be shared. However, I think that such stories should be told to kids only when they are a bit older.

Still, this book is a wonderful tribute to that brave little girl, and the way the story is narrated shows the author's respect. The illustrations are well-made and I appreciate the metaphorical change of the white swans into ominous black shadows of birds.

Was this review helpful?

This is a perfect intro to Anne Frank. I wasn't aware that this book is part of the "Little People, Big Dreams" series, but I will definitely be looking for other books in the series to complete my set.

Was this review helpful?

A story of a life cut short that shines a light on the goodness and humanity of each person. A stunning book in a collection of gems.

Was this review helpful?

Very moving addition to a wonderful series!

This is not an easy story to tell, and especially not to an audience that is still so young and innocent, without any idea of the evil that can exist in the world.
There are a lot of complex ideas and horrible historic events that needed to be cut down to size to be able to tell Anne Frank's story in a way that makes sense to little children. In as much as any of it can make sense...
I think the author and the illustrator both did a tremendous job. I'm in awe.

The drawings are done in an elegant & understated style, with a lot of fine lines and details. Almost too sophisticated for a children's book, almost.
The illustrations are very lovely, the lack of color in the black and white drawings adding a sense of doom and impending sorrow to the story. The only thing that is colored in, is Anne's diary and only at the very end of the book. Very reminiscent of the little girl's red coat in the Schindler's List movie.

I also really liked the symbolism of the recurring white swans (hope?), which are later replaced by a flock of black crows that fly over the pages, bringing to us the despair of the concentration camps.

I loved the little moments of playfulness and gaiety that were added to the story to lift the reader's spirit a bit and show the happiness that was also a part of Anne's short life. We see Anne gleefully peeking out from behind the hidden door leading to her family's hideaway, for example, or blowing out candles on a birthday cake.

I absolutely recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

What a fantastic book to introduce young people to a truly inspirational person. The illustrations in the book of the series are exceptional, very moving that there is a lack of colour.
Recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

Little People, Big Dreams is a wonderful series that has encouraged young girls to dream of bright futures. The series has bravely taken Anne Frank as one of its subjects. This is a tough one because, of course, Anne does not live to be an adult who can achieve her dreams. Emphasis is placed on her diary and her wish to be a published author, something that did happen.

This entry is more somber; the illustrations are in black and white, with the exception of the diary which appears in color. The basics of Anne's story are told in an honest way. The story of Anne is a tough one for children to learn but such an important one. This book is a good way to begin the difficult conversation.

Was this review helpful?

I reviewed this book for Lincoln Children’s Books. It’s part of the Little People, Big Dreams series and tells about the life of Anne Frank. I loved the focus on her writing and her dreams of becoming a writer!

Was this review helpful?