| Booktalk
#1
Nazis have marched into our
small village. They are everywhere in their tall black boots.
It is war! One night I see a little ghost sitting on the end of my
bed and when I tell my mother about it, she tells me that it was not a
ghost but a young Jewish girl who – along with her family – has been hiding
in the basement. I bring her grass, flowers, and beautiful butterflies
from the outside world every day. One night while we are playing
secretly in my room, we are discovered by a neighbor. Because of
this, they must flee. Read this touching story of courage and friendship
and find out what happens to them. Will they ever be free like a
butterfly?
Prepared by: Nancy Bull
for South
Carolina Children's Book Award
Booktalk #2
What can compare to a butterfly:
so beautiful, so free, a natural dancer in the fresh, sunny air?
Patricia Polacco again dips into her family history to tell us a true story
of her aunt and her great aunt in occupied France during the Second World
War. The Nazis are everywhere, “tall boots”, scaring young Monique,
acting so cruelly to her neighbors, especially the neighbors who are Jewish.
Can Monique and her friends ever be as free as butterflies again?
Read this wonderful story of courage, of friendship, and of grace to find
out. (Jean Bellavance bellavance@erols.com
for Pennsylvania
Young Reader's Choice Awards, 2003)
Booktalk #3
Hi, my name is Dani, And have
you ever heard the name Patrica Polacco? Well, I read a story called THE
BUTTERFLY by Patrica Polacco. In this book a little girl named Monique,
who lives in France, finds a little girl named Sevrine and her family hiding
in her basement. They have to hide because they are Jewish, and the
Nazi soldiers are looking for them. One night the girls were looking
at a beautiful Papillon butterfly out their window. "If only
I could be free like the butterfly", said Sevrine. Suddenly, they realize
a man is watching them. Sevrine and her family have to leave quickly.
The escape is very scary. They even have to hide in a tunnel from a car
full of Nazis. When they get to the train station Sevrine hands Monique
a gold bracelet that has the star of David on it. Monique worries about
her friend and wonders if she has made it safely to freedom. Two weeks
later, millions of Papillon butterflies fly in the window. Monique
knew this meant. Sevrine was free! So, if you like butterflies, history,
and something exiciting, this is the book for you! Go check it out at your
local library. (Dani W., student, stephensonsg@bartlesville.k12.ok.us) |
