Inspired by a real life story, Pat Black-Gould tackles one of the darkest history of mankind with so much tenderness that instead of evoking fear and terrifying the readers, it focuses more on the goodness in people's hearts and what we can do better. It tells us about a mother's sacrifice to keep her daughter safe, going so far as changing her identity, her religion, parting her from a valuable memento of her dead father, sister Teresa's bold move to shelter a Jew girl among Catholic children and the million dollar question, 'Which one of the following is a sin - bearing a Star of David necklace or a rosary?' You will be moved to tears. Though the story is devastating and makes it hard to breathe, it also shows that small steps of courage and sacrifices can make big differences in the long run. There have been times in the past when human beings outdid themselves with acts of violence and cruelty but even then, there was hope because humanity was alive in people who stepped forward to protect those in danger by risking their own lives. I can't recommend it enough. The illustrations matches the tone of the story and portrays the emotional situations well. A great choice if you want to introduce young readers to Holocaust.

Lalka is the narrator of this story. She is a seven-year-old girl who lives in Poland with her mother. It is 1939 and all Jewish families are in jeopardy. Her mother is beginning to play a game with her daughter to teach her new ideas and ways, in the hope she will be safe from the Nazis. Lalka’s mother knows the Nazi army are gathering Jews together and sending them to evil camps miles away. She plans to take Lalka to a Convent where she will be hidden amongst Catholic children. She is getting her ready for when they must part, but Lalka does not know about her mother’s plans. She is unaware of what is happening. Innocent and obedient, little Lalka knows that her mother loves her. She trusts her but she doesn’t understand the turmoil her mother is going through. Her mother teaches her new songs and prayers. All Lalka wants is for her mother to be proud of her.
The Nazis are marching increasingly nearer to their home and the only chance Lalka will be safe is by learning to live in a completely new way. Lalka is very young and tries really hard to understand and memorise her mother’s lessons. Then the day comes that her mother takes away the Star of David necklace that her father had given to her to treasure and remind Lalka of her father. Lalka is stunned and upset, but in return for Lalka’s necklace her mother gives Lalka a Rosary of Crystal Beads and promises to look after her father’s gift for her. Knowing her mother is always honest Lalka is pacified and comes to love the feeling of her new necklace.
Conflicted and heartbroken her mother starts their journey to the convent. She prays that Lalka remembers their lessons; her life depends on it. She prays that Lalka will know what to do if she is questioned about her new necklace. She must leave Lalka and try to hide in the hope that her daughter will survive. As she walks away from the convent with tears in her eyes, all she has is a fragile hope for the future, but she knows that there is nothing more that she can do to keep her daughter safe. Life can be so unfair and challenging.
I really enjoyed this beguiling story which is based on a factual event. The storytelling was wonderfully gentle, whilst the vivid illustrations by Katya Royz were stunning. Nevertheless the story was terribly distressing. I truly admired Lalka’s mother for the sacrifice she made in the hope that her daughter would survive the terror of the Holocaust. She was inventive and caring. She was also very courageous. I thought the way she prepared Lalka for her journey and their last goodbye was very poignant. The story itself was designed to tell young children about the atrocities of war, the heart-break and unfairness of racism, loss and grief; so that they will know about it and never forget that all life is equal and has value. It was a lovely way to examine the history of our precious world. The way Lalka was kept safe also highlighted that people who are different in some ways can still be kind, thoughtful, have empathy and help others, just like they helped Lalka in the convent, still preparing her and teaching her about Catholicism, a different religion for her.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Purple Butterfly Press and author Pat Black-Gould, in return for an honest review. Thank you for my gift of a precious and thought-provoking read. This story is excellent and I recommend it not only for its historical content and for children’s literature, but for anyone, any age, who likes a book based on an actual event and enjoys an excellent read. This is a well-deserved, all round 5* review from me.

I wasn't sure what this was about when I requested it, but the cover looked too good to miss. This made me feel so sad for the parents who felt this was the only option for their children. And for the children who had to endure it.
The illustrator Katia Royz has depicted Pat Black-Gould's words so well.
This will be so useful when looking at WW2 and Judaism.

This is a tenderly told story of the Holocaust that will be new for many children. In the midst of World War II, Lalka's mother gifts her a rosary, taking it in exchange for the Star of David necklace given to her by her father. Lalka is reluctant to give up her treasured necklace, she's worn it every day since it was given to her. Her mother tells her the new gift comes with a game, and the reader quickly finds out that the game is learning the Catholic Catechism. As the Nazi invasion looms closer, Lalka's mother is forced to make a heartbreaking sacrifice to give her daughter the best chance at survival.

The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey will be an instant classic used to educate, spark conversation, and preserve the collective memory of the Holocaust for generations to come.

This is a heartbreaking story of a Jewish little girl who sent to live in a convent away from her mother and the importance of her two necklaces - a star of David and a rosary.
The art style is stunning, the illustrations of the girl and her mother are warm and loving - the illustrations of the Nazi soldiers are foreboding and terrifying. The illustrator manages to convey the emotion of a page perfectly using colour.
The pages at the end of the book suggest talking points about the story and I think this is a wonderful addition. I believe he that history should be taught to children without shielding them from the awful parts.
I would definitely recommend this story to parents looking to educate their children about the holocaust, especially with the space it leaves for further discussion and conversation.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc of this children’s book.

The Crystal Beads is a heart wrenching tale of a young girl asked to abandon her religion and adopt another in an attempt to hide from the Nazi's. It's an emotional and thought provoking story filled with lessons of perseverance, selflessness, and the power of love.

This story is masterfully written in a simple but impactful style. It's a book that will engage young and older readers alike while it pushes them to ask tough questions.

A poignant story of a little Jewish girl during the Holocaust that brought tears to my eyes. In order to keep her safe from persecution by the Nazis, the little girl's mother exchanges her Star of David necklace for a rosary, and instructs her in Catholic practices so that she may be able to pass herself off as a Christian to save her life. Her mother enrolls the little girl in a convent school, entrusting her to the care of a kind nun who teaches her further about Catholic traditions. Days go by and suddenly, the mother no longer visits her daughter anymore. One day, Nazi officers arrive at the convent and harass the little girl, calling her a Jew and threatening her life. Will she be able to save herself from persecution? And how will she reconcile her Jewish background with her new Catholic lifestyle? Beautifully illustrated and narrated, this realistic, heart-wrenching tale is a must-read for those wishing to understand the cruel fate of Jewish children during the Holocaust.

An important read for people of all ages. A beautiful and heartbreaking story about a child who does not yet understand what around her is happening. Perfect for starters to teach your kids about the Holocaust.
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

An important read for people of all ages. A beautiful and heartbreaking story about a child who does not yet understand what around her is happening. Perfect for starters to teach your kids about the Holocaust.
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful picture book which beautifully, and gently, introduces children to the horrors of WW2 for Jewish children. When Lalka's mother sits her down one day, and asks her to exchange her Star of David necklace (a gift from her father before he died), for a rosary, she isn't sure why. Over the next few months, Lalka's mother spends many hours teaching her the prayers for each bead on the rosary, and she learns stories about Jesus and the saints from a neighbour. Finally, Lalka is ready. When her mother packs a suitcase for a trip, she is excited about where they are going. The last place Lalka expects to go to is a church deep in the countryside, and she is even more horrified when she realises that her mother intends to leave her there.
It isn't long, however, before her mother's selfless dedication to teaching Lalka about the church and the Bible proves absolutely vital for her survival.
Beautifully written and illustrated.

Short but impressive - gives a good insight into a child’s understanding of a historic event that is easily relatable and discussion starting with younger kids. Liked the discussion points at the back of the book, is good for schools.

This is a beautifully illustrated book that is an eye opener. A mother desperate to save her child, makes a decision that is a life changer! As the title states “The Crystal Beads”, or Rosary Beads, and a young Jewish girl is in the center of the Holocaust, and a mother who gives her the ultimate gift of survival.
Based on a true story, and geared to children, although I might choose an age older than 8, this blight in history should not be forgotten, and the author has does a wonderful job of bringing this story alive.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Purple Butterfly Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

The illustrations in this book are amazingly sweet and beautiful, It goes perfectly with the history, the melancholic colors and drawing are a nice added bonus.

I would however recommend this to an older audience, maybe teens? Or pre-teens, as for a child it could be a little scary.

But good story about war/exile in Poland.

Bittersweet story.
Educational, illustrated book about genocide in Poland 1939.
Short story, that explains what it means to be hunted, for something that you supposed to have by the rights.
I love that author showed the kindness of a nun towards the child.
"Which of this is a sin" broke my heart.

I would recommend this book to more of a grown up, teenage children.

I can easily see this being a book many teachers will read to their students in the decades to come. However, this book should not be shelved only as a children's book as adults can also benefit and learn something by reading it.
Katya Royz’s soft and gorgeous illustrations are one thing, but the imagery in the author’s words is amazing in itself. Pat Black-Gould is able to describe the tone, setting, and emotion of a scene in only a few short sentences. I also appreciated how the story outside of Lalka’s perspective was only implied and it was up to the reader to piece it together. It truly captured the innocence of childhood.
Without spoiling too much, the ending of the book is abrupt (or maybe only because I wanted the story to continue!), but the abruptness allows for instant reflection. The study guide questions at the back of the book also provide an important opportunity to reflect.
Overall, it was a great read and I look forward to having it in my own classroom one day.

There is no lack of Holocaust books for children now, but as the current situation shows we obviously need more.
I really liked this book: the story, the narration, the characters, and most important, the delicate illustrations by Ekaterina Royz. They capture emotions brilliantly. Royz's family came from a small town in Ukraine, they managed to escape from the Nazis during the war, and now the ugly history repeats itself. I hope this book will get a wide promotion.

Thank you so much NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

This book is absolutely heart-breaking.

Set in Poland in 1939, we follow Lalka, a little Jewish girl whose life will change forever in a matter of days.

When she is taken by her mum to a convent, she doesn't really want to stay there far from the only member of her family, but she will soon understand that it is the only place where she can find protection.

A story that will seem familiar to many and that, despite the years, is always great to remember what lots of people went through.

Thank you to Purple Butterfly Press and NetGalley for the ARC of The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey by Pat Black-Gould. This short story was sad and heartwarming at the same time. During the Holocaust many children were sent to and hidden in convents. The infusion of different religious beliefs during that time must have been extremely confusing for the children of Jewish faith. Parents at the time had to come up with creative ways for survival. This story demonstrates such a trial. The additional pictures were symbolic and well done.

The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey is a historical fiction story about one child's survival of the holocaust. I could imagine middle-grade students could handle the content of the book, but while this is a picture book, the content is too intense for younger children. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and an ARC in exchange for my opinions.

The Devil's Advocate would say this relies too much on prior knowledge of the setting and the quandary the characters are facing. Others will say this is galling and most effective. A young Polish girl is told by her single parent mother that she must not only play a game, but live it – and that her Star of David from her father before he died must be replaced by a rosary. She must learn all about a whole other way of thinking, and that thinking is obvious to us adults; it's very blatant that this is a Jewish girl being hidden from the Nazis and smuggled into a gentile life. To children? To children brought up without religion? There are difficulties here, and I think it's a little too obvious this is an adult short story adapted and brought down to the juvenile level. Don't get me wrong, I still see marvellous attributes here, especially in the art (from a lass whose ancestors were Holocaust survivors), and there is emotion aplenty to those who know the context, but without that context I see this as a little flawed. The wealth of end-matter should have been different, and differently-placed, so that from the off the young target audience were seeing precisely what they should from this, without teacherly input. Still, four stars and change is not to be sniffed at. A l'chaim to all involved.